Phoenix Flies Recap #7 - Inman Park United Methodist Church

It's looks it age. It's easy to imagine the very first gathering here, and the very latest. This was the walk-to church by and for the gentry of Atlanta's first suburb.I toured Inman Park United Methodist Church (1898 by Willis Franklin Denny, II) during the Atlanta Preservation Center's Phoenix Flies tour for 2011. As many times as I've driven by, as much as I've heard about it, this was my very first visit.


You see the shady north side from Edgewood. It's modest but dignified, very approachable, close to the the street and just a few steps up to the door. The two gables and little tower balance the big tower. Huge stained glass windows fill the north and west sides.


The west window at the rear of the sanctuary gets the full force afternoon sun. Towers and gables make a nice compact composition; I can imagine this as a Romanesque chapel in an ancient city.


There is nothing brand spanking new in here and who would want it? New babies and new brides, by all means.


Look up.


I'm a bit worried about the plaster but it's beautiful.


Bill Ogan showed us around. There is a veterans memorial in the hall.


The sacristy is a little library, museum, and archive.


If there is a big crowd, you can open these doors between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall.


The bridal room evokes memories from generations of weddings.

Are the windows Victorian? They aren't like others I've seen in Atlanta except maybe Central Presbyterian.


From the Martha Beale Candler window: "She did what she could." We all hope for that.


Spectacular.


"Though he slay me..."




The little windows charm.




Art Nuveau?




The Annie Winship window.


The May Louise Hanye window.

I hope you want wait as long as I did to visit.

Phoenix Flies Recap #6 - First Church of Christ, Scientist, Atlanta

On March 8, we toured the First Church of Christ, Scientist (1914 by Arthur Neal Robinson) during the Atlanta Preservation Center's Phoenix Flies tour for 2011.


I met Travis Taylor there. His valuable new blog, tourAtlanta, is setting a high standard for exploring Atlanta (Travis has a great skill for writing). His post: "First Church of Christ, Scientist: Divine Architecture" is by far best thing on the web about the Church's buildings.



There isn't a more prominent, high-styled building on Peachtree. It's a kitty-cornered terminal vista just north of Colony Square, across the street from the High Museum at the grandest entrance to Ansley Park.



Seeing it once wasn't enough. I planned a second visit but my schedule took a bad twist.


I don't think there is any view in Atlanta that compares with the view from the portico. (Why didn't I take more pictures.)

The view from the narthex looking south through the open doors is spectacular. I urge you to climb those stairs next time you are at Colony Square, Symphony Hall, the High Museum, or Museum of Design Atlanta. The porch is a special place, designed to inspire humans.

Who doesn't want to see inside? I regret that I can't show you, but Travis gives us a great picture in words.

From the outside, it's rather intimating: monumental, elevated, formal, symmetric, cool, looking ancient, yet pristine. The inside matches the outside in that sense. It's spectacular yet a bit reserved.

I found something uncanny about the soaring symmetric interiors. The Church calls it the "auditorium" rather than the "sanctuary." They don't hold weddings or funerals here, the space isn't really fitted for either. So it's a bit unfamiliar to those expecting a typical church interior. But there is no mistaking: You'll know it's a church.

It's always reminded me of one of my favorites, Druid Hills Baptist Church, one of nearly 2 dozen churches on Ponce de Leon. Edward Emmett Dougherty designed Druid Hills Baptist.

It's a Beaux Arts look.


See what I mean? Top: Druid Hill Baptist Church, bottom: First Church of Christ, Scientist.

Top: Druid Hill Baptist Church, bottom: First Church of Christ, Scientist.

Read Travis's post: "First Church of Christ, Scientist: Divine Architecture"