Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church

The Cass Community United Methodist Church is located at 3901 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was built in 1883 as the Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982,[1] and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1985.[2]

Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church
Location3901 Cass Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates42°20′53″N 83°3′47″W
Built1883; 1891 (addition)
ArchitectMason & Rice; Malcomson & Higginbotham
Architectural styleRomanesque Revival
Part ofWillis-Selden Historic District (ID97001478)
NRHP reference No.82000548[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 10, 1982
Designated CPDecember 01, 1997
Designated MSHSMarch 28, 1985[2]

History

The Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1880.[3] In 1883, the congregation hired architectural firm Mason & Rice to design a church at the corner of Cass and Selden.[3] In 1891, Malcomson and Higginbotham designed an addition on the eastern side, which is now the main portion of the church.[3]

Early in the life of the church, the congregation was well-to-do.[4] In the 1920s, however, the membership declined as congregants moved from the area and the character of the neighborhood changed. However, the church decided to remain in the neighborhood and minister to and with the new residents. The church is still operating as a United Methodist congregation, with services that change to meet the needs of the neighborhood.[4]

Architecture

The church is a Richardsonian Romanesque structure, constructed in the form of a Greek Cross.[5] The church is built from rock faced Grafton stone, trimmed with Ionia sandstone.[5] At the corner is a square tower, 86 feet high; the green ceramic tile roof is original.[5] On the interior, Tiffany grace the windows; a Johnson - Tracker church organ is installed, which is thought to be the largest 19th-century pipe organ in Michigan.[3]

A state of Michigan historical maker marks this church.[6]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church". Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  3. Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine from the city of Detroit
  4. Cass Community Social Services Archived April 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine history page
  5. Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church from Woodward Avenue
  6. Cass Community United Methodist Church Archived 2007-10-21 at the Wayback Machine from michmarkers.com
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