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Monday, February 2, 2009

First Presbyterian Church



The Eagle Scout Ceremony I attended was held in the church pictured above. This picture was taken in 2007 on one of my photo-walk-abouts.


The ceremony gave me a chance to get some pictures on the inside. I particularly liked this combination of the stained glass window of the lamb and the spiral staircase. I really like the way the curve of the banister flows with the medallion ring of the window.



The Holy Bible is featured above one of the main doors. Below are two of the tall arched windows of the sanctuary.



The main sanctuary had a large cross, but I found this small chapel off to the side with the sun shining in, to good to pass up.

Between the Eagle Court of Honor which I posted in my Think Focus Click blog and the pictures I got for this post, I'd say I had a rather good picture day.

6 comments:

ShariYS said...

What a purely fabulous place! Presbyterians are sometimes thought of as being rather stodgy and disdaining of anything architecturally elaborate; but a glance at some of their historic churches, this one for example, shows how untrue that is. How I’d love to go through this place with my camera!

Check out also: First Presbyterian in Fostoria (my photos): http://s480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/shariys/Churches/First%20Presbyterian%20Fostoria/

Collingwood Presbyterian in Toledo:
http://www.collingwoodpc.com/history.htm

And Westminster Presbyterian in Buffalo NY, one of the finest cross-tipped churches I’ve seen from the outside, and judging from these photos, nothing less than theatric elegance inside:
http://www.westminster-bflo.org/church/architecture.htm
http://www.pbase.com/kjosker/image/22423500

RussDaMan said...

ShariYs,

Thanks for the comments and links.
Your pictures were great. I found the wooden Celtic cross intriguing. The one large stained glass window looked very cool. I tried leaving a comment but it required a Photo Bucket Account.

I sure wish more churches had a history page with photos like the ones in the other links you provided. Most the time all you get is the church bulletin and schedule.

This was the first Presbyterian Church I can ever remember being in so I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with the photo opportunities I found there.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed looking over your blog and especially appreciate you including the church I serve. Your perspective reveals a unique insight for even long-time members to see some of the beauty of our church building as if for the 1st time. Blessings.

ShariYS said...

Re the Celtic cross: I photographed Collingwood Presbyterian in Toledo today (splendid!), and once again, that Celtic cross took a prominent place in the sanctuary. We usually think of the Celtic cross as being a part of Irish heritage, but according to some literature I obtained at the church, the Celtic cross is of *Scottish* origin and as such, became a symbol of Presbyterianism. Their literature says: "The Celtic Cross. No one knows the origin of this form first seen on the Island of Iona, near Scotland. It has been appropriated by Presbyterians as theirs, since so much Presbyterian history is Scottish. Perhaos it means 'God's love (the cross) has no limit (the circle).' "

The pictures: http://s480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/shariys/Churches/Collingwood%20Presbyterian%20Toledo/

RussDaMan said...

Anonymous - Thanks for the kind words and glad you liked the blog.

RussDaMan said...

Shari,

Fantastic pictures. The stained glass windows are just awesome. I have never seen that type before. Thanks for the link.