Woodward Avenue Baptist Church

Woodward Avenue Baptist Church
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Woodward Avenue Baptist Church, 1982
Location	2464 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates	42°20′26″N 83°3′11″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1886 (1886)
Architect	Mortimer Smith
Demolished	1986
NRHP reference No.	82002915
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 3, 1982
Removed from NRHP	1988

The Woodward Avenue Baptist Church was a Church located at 2464 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, but was destroyed by fire in 1986 and delisted in 1988.

History

Church in 1899, with original facade

The Woodward Avenue Baptist Church congregation was organized as Lafayette Street Baptist Church in 1860. In 1886, the congregation purchased the present church site and changed its name. They hired architect Mortimer Smith to design this church. Construction began immediately, and the church building was completed in 1887. In 1934 the original facade was demolished to make way for the widening of Woodward Avenue. In 1980, the congregation sold the building to the United House of Jeremiah. The church was destroyed by fire in 1986.

Description

The original Woodward Avenue Baptist Church was a Late Victorian Gothic church constructed of gray limestone and rockfaced ashlar. As originally built, it had a gabled facade with a tall corner tower. However, due to the 1935 widening of Woodward Avenue, 46 feet were cut off the front, The remaining section measured 120 feet in length and 90 feet in width, with two simple Gothic arched doors on either side of a slightly projecting pavilion. A two-story addition in the rear, measured 165 feet long by 95 feet wide.