Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Michigan State Historic Site
Interactive map
Location	4461 28th St., Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates	42°20′16″N 83°6′36″W / 42.33778°N 83.11000°W / 42.33778; -83.11000
Built	1891
Architect	Spier & Rohns
Architectural style	Carpenter Gothic
NRHP reference  No.	82002900 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	April 22, 1982
Designated MSHS	October 2, 1980 [2]

The Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church is a church located at 4461 Twenty-Eighth Street in Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980 ^[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. ^[1] The building now houses the Motor City Missionary Baptist Church.

History

In the late 1800s, German-speaking immigrants began moving into southwest Detroit. ^[3] The Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church on Military Street was established in 1882 to service this influx of people. ^[3] The new congregation quickly swelled, and in 1890, the elders of Zion started a daughter congregation, commissioning the architectural firm of Spier & Rohns to design a wooden structure costing no more than $2000 to build. ^[3] This building is the only known example of a wooden church designed by the firm. ^[4]

The church was completed in 1891; a wooden parsonage was added the next year and a brick school was built in 1923. ^[4] The latter two building are included in the city historical listing, while on the church is on the National and state listing. ^[4]

The Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1891; the congregation used the building until 1976, when they went defunct. The building was purchased by the Motor City Missionary Baptist Church in 1978. ^[2] The Motor City Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1967 by Rev. John W. Haynes and his wife Inez. ^[4]

Description

The Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church is a wooden, Carpenter Gothic chapel. ^[2] It is frame construction with gables at the ends, a central tower, and vestibule in front. The original clapboard siding still clads the building, ^[2] although white paint has replaced the original cream-and-gold with red-and-blue accent ^[3] color scheme. Each side has five tall lancet-arched, stained-glass windows, and the eaves are trimmed with hollow curved brackets and a paneled frieze. ^{[2] [3]}

The interior is unusually well-preserved. ^[2] The interior walls feature vertical board wainscoting, with the area above covered in cream painted canvas. ^[4] The church organ is located on a rear balcony. ^[4]

The altar from Gethsemane is now used by Christ our Savior Lutheran Church in Livonia, Michigan.

References