Our History | First Christian Church

First Christian Church Timeline

1823 – A congregation forms as the “Baptized (Baptist) Church of Christ at Columbus.”

1824 – Property for a meeting house is given by Benjamin Irwin; the name changes to “New Hope Baptized Church.”

1832 – The church separates from the Flat Rock Baptist Association, becoming an independent Christian church.

1942 – First Christian Church dedicates its current building, designed by Eliel Saarinen.

1957 – The congregation adopts the name “First Christian Church.”

1992 – The church celebrates its 50th anniversary at the current location.

2002 – The educational wing is added.

2017 – Celebrated 75 years in the current building.

2023 – Tower Renovated

"In accordance with the wishes of the building committee, our endeavor has been to design not a mere church but a church expressing the religious aims of your congregation. Indeed it is essential to establish such a true relationship between the people themselves and the design of their church. 'Our church is our people.' The building committee expressed the thought. So 'our church is our people' has been the leading thought during the whole process of our design work."

"When your fathers and mothers came from different corners of the old world and by various paths in the new to form their communities in Indiana, they brought with them a variety of theological traditions, many of which were already obsolete. In the effort to unite these different denominations into one that owuld be commonly acceptable, your fathers and mothers, instead of combining many sects, decided to go back to the fundamentals of the Christian faith. From this decision, your church has emerged as a brotherhood of simple outer form and of rich inner life."

"As we compare this development of your church with that of the new architectural thought-according to which order your church conceived- we find that these are very much alike, both as to meaning and course of development, for as your church emancipated itself from theology, so the new architectural is endeavoring to build upon the fundamental principles of architecture. As you see then, your form of religion and the design of your church are spiritually related to one another."

"We believe a church building can be created which will surround us in our worship with Christian feeling and will produce in us and in our descendants a Christian consciousness that will be hard to lose. As there is permanence in our faith, so should there be permanence in our church house. Great buildings dominate and influence the lives of those who live near them. A church which embodies and illustrates the truths of Christianity should be a monument in which the affection and aspiration of many generations of Christians are centered."

Symbolism in Design: Vertical and horizontal patterns in wood and windows reflect life on earth reaching up to God.

Worship Auditorium: Spacious yet simple (144' x 46' x 45'), modeled after Solomon's Temple; the chancel mirrors the Holy of Holies.

Cross: A large latin cross dominates the south wall, reminding worshipers of Christ's victory over death.

Pulpit & Communion Table: The rounded, off-center pulpit points toward the communion table, baptistery, and cross. The table and baptistery remain centered, empasizing their central role in worship.

Tapestry: A 12' x 27' weaving from Cranbrook Academy depicts the Sermon on the Mount, with Christ, the tree of life, and symbolic animals.

Baptistery Wall: Vertical wood represents baptism as a personal covenant with God.

Windows & Light: Clear glass fills the space with natural light; leaded patterns echo the carillon tower's brickwork.

Lighting: Hanging lamps recall early New Testament oil lamps.

Pipe Organ: A world-class Aeolian-Skinner with 4,708 pipes, placed off to the side so focus stays on the cross, table, and baptistery.