First Methodist Episcopal Church, 129-133 Northwest Fourth Street, Oklahoma City

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OK-59. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church (First United Methodist Church), built in is significant as an excellent example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture and one of the few examples in Oklahoma City. The church is located in downtown Oklahoma City and is one of several turn of the century and early twentieth religious properties located along Broadway Avenue. This avenue was once known as "church row." Project Information On April 19, the William Murrah Building in downtown Oklahoma City was bombed. The Methodist Church is located directly across the street from the Murrah Building, and sustained damage. In anticipation of renovating the building, this HABS documentation is being completed.Architectural Design Group, Inc.

of Oklahoma City prepared the documentation, including the drawings and the written report. Michael Cihlar of Meacham and Associates of Norman, Oklahoma was the photographer. First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page2 PART I. ffiSTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History 1. Date of erection: The site was originally the location of the first church constructed in the Unassigned Lands. The original frame Methodist Church was moved off the site in and construction of the subsequent building began. It was completed in June of and dedicated on June 5, In the building was enlarged A large, three-story educational wing was added in 2. Architect: The architect was Charles R. Lobdell of Oklahoma City.

Lobdell's occupation was listed in the Oklahoma City city directories during the first quarter of the twentieth century as a carpenter, a laborer, a contractor and an architect. After his name was no longer included in the directories. 3: Original and Subsequent Owners: The First United Methodist Church has owned the building since its construction in 4. Original and Subsequent Occupants: The First United Methodist Church has occupied the building since its construction in 5. Builder, Contractor: The contractor was the Gross Construction Company of Oklahoma City. Frederick Gross, the owner of the company, built several churches on Robinson Avenue in Oklahoma City including the First Presbyterian at Northwest Ninth and Robinson and the First Christian at Northwest Tenth and Robinson.

He was also responsible for the Times Journal Building (demolished). Gross came to Oklahoma City to build the First Methodist Church. He was from Ottumwa, Iowa, where he had built other churches. 6.

Original Construction and Additions: The First Methodist Episcopal Church/First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City received its start when the Unassigned Lands in Oklahoma Territory were opened on April 22, Within six months the Methodist pioneers had constructed a frame church building on the corner of Robinson and Fourth Street with a seating capacity of This building, its furnishings, and the lots cost It was the first church building in the Unassigned Lands and was in use through The Oklahoma City congregation began to expand and in June of an additional fifty feet of land located east of the church was purchased for The church now owned a x piece of property.

Fifteen years after the land run, in the church constructed a brick building on the lots where the frame church building had been. The cornerstone for the new brick church was laid on January 28, That First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page3 same month construction began on a two-story frame parsonage located directly east of the building. For several months before completing the project, the congregation met in the basement of the new church.

The Daily Oklahoman said that the construction of the Methodist Church "marked a new epoch in her (Oklahoma City) history; and takes her place among the most enlightened and cultured municipalities." The First Methodist Episcopal Church had "none superior to it in all the middle and southwest." 1 "It was surpassed by none in 600 miles," stated the local paper. 2 The pressed brick and stone church was constructed at a cost of The style was referred to in the Daily Oklahoman as "classic architecture." It was also reported that the main auditorium was built to hold to people when the galleries were open and the rolling partitions in the rear were raised. 3 This figure may be exaggerated because in the auditorium was enlarged and could only accommodate people.

4 The basement had a Sunday School class for The basement also contained a kitchen and dining room. The rear of the auditorium was designed as the pastor's study and classrooms. The second floor was just to be used as classrooms. The church had thirty-five rooms, a new Kimball organ, and a parsonage next door. A steam heat with ventilation system was installed to provide warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer. In the auditorium there was an elevated pulpit at the south end and, on the second floor, behind the pulpit was the pipe organ. Velvet carpet, donated by the Bass and Harbor Furniture Store, was installed on the floor of the auditorium. There were heavy carved oak pews. The gallery railing was hard wood with carved panels. Fresco work covered the interior walls.

Stained glass windows were used throughout the church. The central stained glass rose window was located on the west side and was named the "Grand Army of the Republic" window. In the center section was "GAR" and thirteen stars on a 1 Daily Oklahoman, May 29, 2 Daily Oklahoman, June 7, 3 "The New Church," Daily Oklahoman, June 7, "The main auditorium of the building has ordinarily a seating capacity of fourteen hundred people but with the galleries opened and the rolling partitions raised in the rear part of the building, this principal auditorium will seat comfortably an audience of eighteen hundred people." and McHenry, Golden Anniversary: First Methodist Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1939(0klahoma City: First Methodist Episcopal Church, 19.

First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page4 field of blue. A second stained glass window installed in the building had a life size portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Later, the Lincoln Window was relocated to the second floor of the northwest round tower, possibly in Other windows mentioned in an early newspaper article5 include one described as bearing the state seal of Iowa with the inscription "Testimonial from friends in Iowa" and several windows from Missouri and Kansas. The rose window located on the south elevation was described as "bearing the names of Methodist pioneers of Oklahoma City." Other significant stained glass windows were installed.

6 The First Methodist Episcopal Church was thought to be the most modem and up to date church in Oklahoma City, and all of Oklahoma Territory. There were four major financial pledges made by the membership during the first fifty years: (1) the original to build the brick church, (2) a pledge for the addition, (3) a pledge for an Educational Building in and (4) a pledge in to pay off the entire mortgage. The first addition was begun in when 25' feet were added to the east side and the church and the sanctuary were enlarged. The parsonage was torn down and the ground in front of the church and parsonage was graded down to street level. The addition had a 5' easement on the east side that was incorporated into the building during the addition.

A high retaining wall was built at the east side of the church to separate the church from the residence located directly east of the new addition. On the south side, at the entry to the church, a new projecting lobby was also constructed. The front steps leading to the entry were extended south to the front property line. A new entrance to the basement was located in the addition on the east side of the front steps. This entrance also led to the new pastor's study. The pulpit, organ, and choir loft were also moved in from the south end of the auditorium and relocated to the east side. A well lighted and ventilated kitchen was built in the basement.

This addition, which added several thousand square feet of floor space, was completed by the Gross Construction Company the original contractor for the church. The auditorium seating was also expanded to seat This project was completed at a cost of Two years later, in the church purchased another 50' ofland on the east side of their current property. 5 Daily Oklahoman, June 7, 6 The rose window, believed to have been originally located on the east side of the building, was in the attic of the church when the April 19, bombing of the Murrah Federal Building oreurred. It was destroyed as a result of the blast.

First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 5 The additional Sunday school rooms, which were constructed as part of the addition, were inadequate by This prompted the construction of a three-story educational building begun that same year and completed in This was the last major construction project. The building was constructed on the 50' of land that the church purchased in at a cost of It was a three-story, 40' x building and cost including furnishings. The first floor was used for elementary Sunday schools (Nursery, Primary-Beginners, Cradle Roll) and the Sunday school office. The second floor housed the Recreation Hall/Auditorium and the parlors. The third floor was used by the Juniors.

The building was constructed so additional flours could be added in the future and remains standing. During the and the several projects were completed. The primary project was undertaken in the This project included the installation of new gas pipes and modern steel girders and extra bracing for the roof. It was completed at a cost of In the Ingham Prayer Chapel was dedicated. It is located on the north side of the sanctuary. The Ingham Chapel was presented by S. K. Ingham and her sons, Ward and Kermit, in memory of Sidney Ingham, Harriet Ingham, and Emma Ingham. The prayer chapel had a street level entry that allowed for the public to visit twenty-four hours a day. The outside entrance was used until when a fire occurred outside the chapel in the lobby.

In the church acquired the east lawn and some property on the south side of Fifth Street. A parking lot east of the church was acquired in The next year the church purchased a new parsonage at Northwest Terrace. This replaced the home at Northwest that was donated to the church by fellow members in or The church had also owned a home during the that was at 909 Northwest Street. In the Educational Building was remodeled. Other projects during the included the Youth Room and Recreational Center in the Educational Building and the addition of a north foyer and the installation of an elevator in the north foyer in Above the foyer a choir room was added. A brick porte cochere to allow protection from the weather for drop off traffic, was also constructed outside the entrance to the north foyer.

In the church acquired the four remaining pieces of property between the church and the alley. The final land acquisition was the purchase of two lots east of the church in for In the sanctuary interior was redecorated. The next year historic markers were placed on the building. That same year, on September 17, the lobby outside the Ingham Chapel had a fire. Fortunately, there was little damage to the other areas of the church. In 197 4 a heating system was installed on the first floor of the Educational Building, the ceilings were lowered, and a fire smoke detection system was installed. First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page6 In the first floor of the educational building was refurbished and was spent on a new roof for the parsonage.

Classen Hall, located in the basement of the original building, was designed and constructed with funds donated by Anton H. Classen 7 in the late This hall was renovated at a cost of in The funds for the renovation were donated by Harold Brand, in honor of his mother in law A.H. Classen. In a new sound system was purchased for In the Educational Building was remodeled again and the north foyer was also refurnished. On April 19, the William Murrah Building in downtown Oklahoma City was bombed, killing 168 people and injuring more than Many downtown Oklahoma City buildings were severely damaged, including the Methodist Church, which is located directly across the street from the east side of the Murrah Building. Most of the windows in the church were destroyed by the blast.

Structural damage also occurred. A portion of the church was used as a temporary morgue after the blast. The existing church is currently being restored and will be used for meeting space, offices, and classrooms. A new sanctuary is being constructed on the north side of the existing building. The cost to repair the damage to the existing church buildings is estimated to be million. The Church Organ The building had a two manual Kimball pipe organ. It was the largest in the state when it was reportedly installed with the help of Mr. Kimball himself. It cost and was purchased by the local Epworth League. In the organ was electrified and remodeled. The organ was also remodeled in The original pipes, which were installed in are still in use.

The Church Bells In eleven church bells were donated to the First Methodist Episcopal Church by Mr. and Frederick A. Gross in memory of four of their children who died before reaching the age of thirty. Two sons were killed while building the Times Journal Building (demolished), located next to the Biltmore Hotel (demolished), in downtown Oklahoma City in Each bell has an inscription. Four bells have the Gross children's names and dates of births and deaths. Five bells have Bible verses. One bell has a Christmas carol. The first person to play the bells was 7 McHenry, Dr. and Golden Anniversary. 8 Daily Oklahoman. Obituary of Frederick A Gross.

Approximate date - Januacy Gross constructed several churches on North Robinson including the First Methodist Church, the First Presbyterian Church, and the First Christian Church, the old Oklahoma County Courthouse (demolished), the city's second movie theater, and the first home of the Oklahoma City Times. In addition he also built the Times-Journal Building (demolished). First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 7 Milton McCullough, who played the same bells thirty-five years later at the church's fortieth anniversary. The chimes cost and were the first of their kind west of the Mississippi. The inscriptions on the bells are as follows: Large Bell: This Chime of Bells presented to First Methodist Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, by Mr. and Frederick A.

Gross, December 25, in loving memory of their children. Second Bell: Alma M. Gross - Bell: Freddy A. Gross - Fourth Bell: William F. Gross - - Fifth Bell: Orlanda S. Gross - Sixth Bell: Blessed Are The Pure in Heart for They Shall See God. Seventh Bell : The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want. Eighth Bell : Happy is The People Whose God is The Lord. Ninth Bell: I Give Thanks Unto the Lord for He is Good, and His Mercy Endureth Forever. Tenth Bell: Yea, Though I walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will Fear No Evil, for Thou Art With Me, Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me. Eleventh Bell: Glory to God in the Highest, and On Earth Peace, Good Will Toward Men. 9 The tubular chimes were donated by W. L. Buck in B.

Historical Context The Oklahoma Land Run On April 22, a large portion of Oklahoma Territory was opened to settlement, including the land where Oklahoma City now stands. This was the opening of the unassigned lands of the Creek and Seminole tribes. By the end of the day Oklahoma City was surveyed into lots and blocks and a town was born. On April 28, the first Sunday after the run, Methodist settlers put out the word that they would meet at a.m. on the north edge of town. That morning on the north side of Third Street at Robinson sixty men, a dozen women, and one- half dozen children met for a service. The Reverend James Murray, superintendent for the missions in Indian Territory, presided.

First United Methodist Church, Oklahoma Ci.ty: 100 Years ofService, 9 Baird Askins, (Oklahoma City: First Methodist Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 8 On the second Sunday the First Methodist Episcopal Sunday School was organized and is reported to be the "longest running Sunday School in the state." The congregation rented a room on the south side of First Street in the 100 block. The benches were made of two-by-fours and the pulpit was a dry goods box. On June 23, the First Methodist Episcopal Church Society was organized. The congregation began to raise money to buy land and build a church. They purchased two lots on the northeast corner of Fourth and Robinson, the present location of the church, for In September of they decided to build a church.

Tubbs was selected to be the contractor and the church was completed on October 26, It was dedicated on Sunday, October 27, at a cost of The cost included the lots and the furnishings. It was the first church building in Oklahoma City and was in continuous use until History of the Congregation Within one year, the First Methodist Episcopal Church had 125 members. These members constituted approximately one sixth of the Methodists in Indian Territory. The congregation grew slowly; its membership was severely depleted in the fall of by Oklahoma City members who took part when the Cherokee Strip was opened.

Later land runs include the September 22, opening of Pottowatomie and Lincoln counties, and the opening of the Cheyenne/Arapaho lands that include Blaine, Dewey, Roger Mills, Custer, and Washita counties. By there were forty-seven church buildings in Oklahoma. Three had over 100 members. These were Guthrie with 177 members, Oklahoma City with 139 members, and Kingfisher with 108 members. Reverend Frank E. Day served as pastor from until and it was during his tenure that the new brick church was constructed. By then, Oklahoma City had electric street cars and street paving. It took fifteen months to build the church. The original frame church was moved off the lots to a location on West Reno Avenue to serve as a mission church.

While the new brick building was under construction the congregation met at 24 West Fourth Street in the Fred Sutton Building, one and- one half blocks east of their property.11 Bonds were issued to church members who committed to as many as they could afford. Each share represented and the members were required to pay these bonds off within a certain time. The brick church building was dedicated on June 5, The original piece of land was 75' x A copy of the architect's rendering is available and suggests 10 Baird.Askins, First UnitedMethodistChw:r:h. 11 Daily Oklahoman, January 24, First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 9 that the ground around the church was to be leveled.

This was not completed until In May of a New Episcopal area was organized and a Bishop was located in Oklahoma City from that year until The First Episcopal Methodist Church congregation of Oklahoma City provided the Bishop with a house. In the church became debt free and burned the mortgage papers. Two years later the church had members and buildings valued at Two years later , in October of all three branches of the Methodist Church meL in Lhe First Methodist Church and became a United Methodism. In the church opened the Service Men's Center. The Service Center entertained service men Saturday nights and members of the church housed the G.I.s and brought them back to church Sunday. In through the church considered merging with St.

Luke's Methodist Church which was at Eighth Street and North Robinson. This idea was eventually overruled by Bishop W. Angie Smith in In the church bought some more adjacent property. With this property, they held title to eighteen of the thirty-six lots comprising one-half of the block between Fourth and Fifth streets along Robinson Avenue. Near the end of the the church had 24 70 members. During the the First Presbyterian at Ninth Street and Robinson Avenue and St. Luke's built new buildings in the neighborhood. The following decade the congregation debated whether to build a new church in northwest Oklahoma City. In the membership voted to stay downtown. In the Methodist Church united with the Evangelical United Brethren Church and formed the United Methodist Church. PART II.

ARCHITECTURAL

Information a

General Statement The June 7, edition of the Daily Oklahoman reported that the Methodist Church was about to be dedicated. Included in the description of the new building was information about the stained glass windows. One window had the state seal of Iowa and was inscribed "Testimonial from friends in Iowa." There were also windows from Missouri and Kansas. The circular window located on the front facade over the entry doors bore the names of the Methodist pioneers of Oklahoma City. The architect was Charles R. Lobdell of Oklahoma City and the contractor was Gross Construction Company, also of Oklahoma City.

Lobdell's occupation was listed in the Oklahoma City directories during the first quarter of the twentieth First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 10 century as a carpenter, a laborer, a contractor and an architect. After his name was no longer included in the directories. Frederick Gross built several churches on Robinson Avenue including the First Presbyterian at Northwest Ninth and Robinson and the First Christian at Northwest Tenth and Robinson. He was also responsible for the Times Journal Building (demolished). Gross came to Oklahoma City to build the First Methodist Church. He was from Ottumwa, Iowa, where he had built other churches.

The First Methodist Chur ch is an excellent example of the vernacular Romanesque Revival style which was popular during the latter half of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth century. The Romanesque style was particularly popular with the Episcopal Church, however, revival styles were interpreted in numerous fashions by all types of congregations. It is also possible that the contractor may have built similar churches in Iowa. This style is truly American and was carried out spectacularly by the architect Henry H. Richardson Richardson is famous for interpreting the Romanesque style using rough stone masonry surfaces with a heavy emphasis on horizontality. Single tower forms, arched window openings and doorways are also indicative of his designs.

The Romanesque Revival style, also referred to as the Richardsonian Romanesque style, was very popular in the west. Many of Guthrie, Oklahoma's buildings, constructed during the late and the early are Romanesque. There is generally an emphasis on surface texture and corner towers are often incorporated into the design as a focal point. The corner tower and other design elements of this style also worked well on corner lots. The design of the First Methodist Church uses brick and cast stone to articulate the surface. Located on the northeast corner of Robinson and Fourth streets, the corner tower is incorporated into the design by using the tallest tower on the corner of the building facing the intersection. Two other smaller towers are also part of the original building.

The use of sandstone, limestone, or cast stone and hard, dark-red or dark-brown brick is also typical with one serving as the trim for the other. When brick is used for the body of the building, such as with the First Methodist Church, the arches are generally emphasized with bold moldings. The fenestration patterns generally used in Romanesque Revival designs include varying the size and shape of the windows and doors from floor to floor. This is also displayed by the design of the church with flat cast stone lintels defining the lower story windows and arched hood moldings defining upper floor windows~ The pattern used on the three-story Educational Building, constructed twenty-two years later, also repeated this design element.

However, the first floor windows First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 11 have flattened arches and the upper story windows have pointed arches. The First Methodist Episcopal Church/First Methodist Church is an excellent example of the vernacular Richardsonian Romanesque style and is the only remaining example in Oklahoma City. B. Description of Exterior The First Methodist Episcopal Church/First Methodist Church was built in with later major additions in and Other alterations have occurred; however, none affect the architectural and historical integrity of the building. Church The First Methodist Episcopal Church/First Methodist Church, designed by Charles R.

Lobdell of Oklahoma City and built in by Gross Construction Company, is a two and three-story building with a raised, full basement. It is a vernacular expression of the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture which was popular during the later half of the nineteenth century. This style is distinguished by the round arch with an emphasis on horizontality. A prominent tower is generally the focal point of the design. Other distinguishing elements include the use of turrets, unusual-shaped windows, windows grouped in bands, and out-scaled rose windows. The body of the First Methodist Episcopal Church/First Methodist Church is pressed red brick with heavy articulated cast stone raised basement walls. The roof is hipped with large wall gables on all four sides.

Cast stone is also used for the lintels and sills of the doors and windows. Brick quoins are located on each corner of the building. There is a smooth belt course which divides the foundation from the body of the building. The original church consists of the two-story auditorium and three towers. A square four-story tower is located on the southwest comer of the building and serves as the focal point. The original front-facing gable entry on the south facade is two stories in height. The original entry door, the name plate, and the large stained glass rose window were centered and enclosed in a two-story arch with cast stone quoins on either side and a large, cast stone hoodmold with a keystone. Directly above the arch is a single, oculus (round window) with stained glass.

A decorated style cross serves as the gable post. The original entry doors were flanked with slender, cast stone Ionic columns. The inscription on the cast stone nameplate above the door read: First Episcopal Methodist Church First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 12 Above the inscription is the large stained glass rose window (extant). Four arched stained glass windows below the rose rise to meet the bottom curve of the window. Slender single windows on the first and second floor flank the two-story arch that encloses the entry doors and the rose window. The first floor windows have cast stone sills and lintels and the second floor windows are arched with arched hood moldings with a single key stone. Originally two sets of steps led to the entry doors.

These were replaced with concrete and cast stone steps in when an addition was added and the land surrounding the church was leveled. The original balustrades were low and constructed of concrete. The square four-story tower, located on the southwest corner, is pressed brick with rectangular stained glass windows with cast stone lintels and sills on the first and second floors. Arched windows with cast stone hoodmolds are on the third floor. The fourth floor serves as the belfry and is separated from the bottom three floors with a belt course of cast stone. The belfry has large arched openings on each side with smooth, cast stone hoodmolds with keystones, flanked with slender cast stone columns. Rough sandstone partially surrounds the upper portion of the arched openings.

The four corners of the belfry are accentuated with Romanesque Revival style round columns constructed of round rusticated cast stones. These columns are capped with large, bell-shaped finials. The bells are visible. The quoins located on the corners of the belfry are flat against the outside walls of the tower. Originally the roof of the square tower had a steeply pitched four-sided tile spire. Between the late and the mid the spire was removed and replaced with a flat roof. At the base of the southwest tower there was originally a door to the basement. It was removed and replaced with a large window during the renovation. The cornerstone for the building is located at the southwest corner of the first floor of the tower. The raised basement walls are cast stone.

A second square tower, slightly stepped back from the facade, is located on the east side of the original church building. It is three stories in height with single rectangular windows on the first floor, arched windows with arched cast stone hoodmolds on each side of the second floor, and triple arched windows with arched hoodmolds on the third floor. This square tower is capped with a crenelated parapet. Each side of the third (top) floor of the east tower is articulated with Romanesque Revival-style round rusticated rough cast stone columns with bell shaped finials. The third floor of the tower is separated from the lower floors with a cast stone belt course.

The west side of the building faces Robinson Avenue and repeats many of the design elements present on the facade facing Fourth Street. A gabled two-story First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 13 projection extends from the main body of the church and is similar in design to the front entry. Although no longer visible, a matching gable was originally located on the east elevation. Triplet windows with cast stone sills and lintels are located on the first floor. The second floor of the projected gable end has a stained glass rose window. Both the first and second floor windows are surrounded by a two-story cast stone arch, identical to the arch on the facade. Directly above the arch is a single round stained glass window (oculus).

There are three double hung windows at ground level in the raised basement. On the first and second floors on either side of the extended gabled projection on the west elevation are pairs of windows. The first floor windows are rectangular with cast stone sills and lintels; the second floor windows are arched with cast stone hoodmolds with keystones. There are also insets of decorative tan brick beneath the first and second floor windows. The third tower is round and is located on the north end of the west elevation. It has a round wooden dome covered with sheet metal. Originally this tower had a sweeping concrete and cast stone staircase which led to double wood paneled doors on the first floor. The door and staircase were removed during the renovation.

A door at ground level was installed and the original door opening was replaced by the Lincoln stained glass window. A second entry is located on the west elevation at the far northwest corner of the building. This entryway has double wood paneled doors with a projecting entryway with a crenelated parapet. It appears from comparing the original architectural rendering to later photographs that although the doors may be original; the entryway was probably added later in This entryway also served as the exterior entrance to the Ingham Chapel. The rear of the original building is simply designed. There is a north facing gable opposite the gable on the south facade of the church. The hipped roof is visible.

There is a brick stack visible from the rear which was probably used for the original kitchen and/or heating system. A second stack, located closer to the northwest corner of the roof, collapsed during the bombing of the Murrah Building. C. Additions and Alterations Addition Several additions have been made over the years. The first addition was in and includes adding 21' to the east side of the building. This included constructing a new, projecting, cast stone entryway and a new concrete and cast stone staircase on the facade to accommodate some interior alterations.

Grading the surrounding land, First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 14 removing the door from the southwest square tower and replacing it with a window; and removing the door and staircase from the round tower and replacing them with a ground level entryway were also included in this project. This project required that the two-story frame parsonage, located on the east side of the church, be removed. Downtown Oklahoma City is situated on the hillsides which gently rise from the Canadian River bottom. This rolling landscape did not permit for buildings, such as the First Methodist Church, to be situated on flat land. When the church was constructed in the land surrounding the building was left in place and entry steps were built to follow the landscape.

During the renovation the rolling yard was leveled and a grander two-tier cast stone and concrete staircase was added to the front of the church. At the top of the staircase a new cast stone projecting entryway was built. The original double door entryway and the cast stone name plate were removed or covered. An alteration to the interior - moving the pulpit from the south side of the auditorium to the east side of the auditorium - precipitated this change. The entryway is elaborately carved cast stone, with three single entries located under three separate flat arches with slender columns on either side. Single paneled wood doors with Gothic arch tops are located under each single entry. Each door has three, narrow, vertical arched lights.

A portion of the front of the entry and the sides of the projecting entry are brick. On the sides of the entry are single, double- hung wood windows with cast stone sills and lintels. The 21' addition to the east side of the church is similar in design to the original building. It is divided into two sections. The first two-story section is slightly projected from the facade with a single entry door under a crenelated parapet. The paneled wood entry door has a pointed arch and narrow, rectangular lights. The second two-story section is slightly recessed with paired windows on both floors. The first floor windows are double hung with cast stone sills and lintels. The second floor windows are arched with cast stone hood moldings with keystones.

Two of the three towers were altered during this project. The southwest tower originally had a door at the basement level on the south side which was accessed by stairs. This doorway was removed and replaced with a single, wood, double-hung window. The stairs to the basement were removed. The northwest round tower had a door to the first floor which was accessed by a sweeping circular concrete staircase. The door and staircase were removed and replaced with a door and entryway at basement level. The original first floor door was replaced with a stained glass window. The brick entryway is slightly projected and has a crenelated parapet with a cast stone parapet cap.

This entryway is similar to the entryway on First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 15 the south side of the 21' addition and to an entryway located at the far northwest corner of the church. Addition The three-story Educational Building, located on the east end of the church building, was begun in and completed in This addition has a flat roof with a gabled parapet facing Fourth Street. A flat parapet with a cast stone cap surrounds the remaining three sides. The dark red brick facade is similar to the original building and previous addition. This addition has a small basement in the rear of the building that was used as the boiler room.

The first floor is almost level with the basement floor of the original building because of the decrease in elevation of the site from west to east. The base of the first floor is partially faced with cast stone to match the raised basement exterior on the original church building and the addition. The entryway of the Educational Building has paired plank wood doors with single panes surrounded by a bluntly pointed cast stone arch. The paired windows on the first floor have cast stone surrounds with flattened arches. The second and third floor paired windows have pointed arched windows. The east side of the Educational Building is faced with a red brick generally used for side and rear elevations. The double hung windows have cast stone sills and lintels.

There is a brick stack at the northeast corner of the building. Addition In the rear of the church was altered and a large, brick porte cochere was added behind the addition. The north lobby, which is connected to the porte cochere, was enlarged and an elevator added to the east side of the lobby. The porte cochere has a crenelated parapet with cast stone parapet caps. This project also included connecting the north lobby and the second floor to the adjacent Educational Building. D. Description of Interior The interior of the church includes a large sanctuary, a small prayer chapel, offices, meeting rooms, a kitchen and dining hall, and classrooms. The main entrance is located on the south side of the building and enters into the south lobby and sanctuary.

Behind the sanctuary on the north side is the Ingham Chapel. Other rooms included in the portion of the church are offices, classrooms, and a meeting room/dining hall located in the basement. Before the addition a small kitchen was located in the basement. The addition includes the enlargement of the east side of the sanctuary, additional offices and classrooms, and an expanded meeting room/dining hall and First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 16 kitchen in the basement. The Educational Building contains meeting rooms, offices, and classrooms. The Sanctuary The sanctuary of the First Methodist Episcopal Church is the focal point of the building. The pulpit was originally located on the south side of the auditorium in the building.

Early photographs show a raised stage, choir loft and pipe organ situated under a curved plaster ceiling. The south rose window is visible in the background. The entry was also on the south side. It can be postulated that the original lobby had doors on either side of the pulpit which led to the sanctuary. There is evidence of a door located in the wall facing the south entry doors. This door may have led to a set of stairs behind the pulpit that connected the lobby to the choir and the organ pipes. During the renovation the 21' foot addition included the expansion of the sanctuary. The north-south length of the room was expanded and the pulpit, choir loft, and organ pipes were moved to the east end of the auditorium.

A balcony was added that surrounded the auditorium on the north, south, and west ends. In early photographs the new location of the pulpit shows the uncovered organ pipes. In front of the pipes is the wood paneling which is extant. On either side of the choir loft and stage are curved, plaster-sheathed staircases. The sanctuary was renovated and several changes were made sometime between and These changes included erecting a screen in front of the organ pipes, a more elaborate wood paneled wall behind the state area, and stepped, paneled staircases on either side of the pulpit. The current sanctuary is a large open space, approximately two and one half stories in height. The pulpit and choir loft are surrounded by a slightly projecting circular stage.

The exterior of the stage wall and the wall behind the stage are faced with stained wood paneling. Decorative columns are used at the end and center staircase. Similar wood paneling is used throughout the sanctuary and on the exterior of the balcony walls. Throughout the auditorium, supporting the outer edge of the balcony, are 6" steel support columns. The walls of the auditorium are plaster. The connections between the ceiling and walls are slightly curved and also sheathed with plaster. Located in the center of the ceiling is a large light well with a sky light. Historic photographs of the property show a large, metal roof vent in the same location.

It is possible that this area was originally used to allow warm air to escape through the roof and during the renovation the vent was converted to a sky light. First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 17 Ingham Prayer Chapel The Ingham Chapel, located on the north side of the sanctuary, is a small room with some detailed wood paneling. Other decorative features in the church include the carved, wood paneled staircases which are located in each of the three, original towers. The remainder of the church is divided into hallways, offices, meeting rooms, and classrooms. None of these rooms have any distinguishing characteristics. E.

Site The First Methodist Episcopal Church/First United Methodist Church is located in downtown Oklahoma City on the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Robinson Avenue. The land is slightly sloping, rising slowly from the north bank of the Canadian River. The church buildings occupy approximately one-quarter of the block with parking occupying another half block. The site is surrounded by high rise buildings, and a few buildings, such as St. Joseph's Cathedral, as old as the Methodist Church remain in the area. There is little open space surrounding the church, except for parking lots. A small grassy area is located on the south side of the church buildings and there is also an enclosed yard on the east side. Parking lots are located north and east of the church buildings.

Outside the front of the building, on the southwest corner, is a sign board of brick with a rusticated cast stone base. The sign board is diagonally placed and faces southwest. It was built shortly after the end of World War IL PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Architectural Drawings No original drawings are available. B. Bibliography Askins, Baird. First United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City: 100 Years of Service, (Oklahoma City: First United Methodist Church, Babcock, Sidney H., and John Y. Bryce. History ofMethodism in Oklahoma. Vol. 1. No place: no publisher, Blackburn, Bob L. Heart of the Promised Land: Oklahoma County, An Illustrated History. Woodland Hills, CA: Windsor Publications, First Methodist Episcopal Church HABS OK-59 page 18 Brill, Harry E.

Story of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City: University Press, "Church Bulletin." Daily Oklahoman. May 29, May 13, "Church Members in the Territory."Daily Oklahoman. January 22, Clegg, Leland and William B. Oden. Oklahoma Methodism in the Twentieth Century. Nashville: Parthenon Press, Daily Oklahoman. January 3, January 24, March 1, "Dedication of New Methodist Church."Daily Oklahoman. May 29, McHenry, Dr. and McHenry. Golden Anniversary: First Methodist Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City: First Methodist Episcopal Church, "Methodist Women Enthused."Daily Oklahoman. June 4, "The Methodists." Daily Oklahoman. June 2, Mitchell, Paul. From Teepees to Towers: A History of the Methodist Church in Oklahoma. No place: no publisher, no date.

National Trust for Historic Preservation. Built in the USA: American Buildings from Airports to Zoos. Washington, Preservation Press, "The New Church." Daily Oklahoman. June 7, Nineteen sixty-four Pictorial Directory: Our Anniversary, First Methodist Church, Oklahoma City: First Methodist Church,