The First Unitarian Church built 1817-1818 Baltimore, Maryland designed by
French architect Maximilian Godefroy
My favorite building in Baltimore is the Neoclassical The First Unitarian
Church built in Baltimore, Maryland in 1818. The building was the first church
erected for Unitarians in the United States. Completed in 1818, the church is a
brick building covered in scored stucco and is a domed cube. It is fronted with
a Tuscan column portico or narthex with three round arches. The church,
originally called the First Independent Church of Baltimore, is the oldest
building continuously used by a Unitarian congregation in America. The building
was designed by French architect Maximilian Godefroy working in Baltimore and
was begone in 1817.
The First Unitarian Church built 1817-1818 Baltimore, Maryland designed by
French architect Maximilian Godefroy
Poor acoustics under the original central dome led to an 1893 interior
renovation, in which architect Joseph Evans Sperry added abarrel vault under the
dome. The church features stained glass from the studio of Louis Comfort Tiffany
of New York city. The pipe organ was donated by Enoch Pratt and is a Niemann
instrument.
A terracotta relief in the building's pediment of the Angel of
truth was executed by Antonio Cappellano a Italian sculptor working in
Washington D.C. on the Capital building, who had executed the Battle Monument
also designed by Maximilian Godefroy. Deterioration caused it to be replaced
with a replica in 1954.On a scroll is a Greek inscription that translates "To
the One God."
The First Unitarian Church built 1817-1818 Baltimore, Maryland designed by
French architect Maximilian Godefroy
The building is significant in the history of Unitarianism as the site of
William Ellery Channing's Baltimore Sermon of May 5, 1819, which laid the
foundation for the Unitarian denomination. That defined the newly emerging
Unitarian denomination in America. The occasion was the ordination of a
minister, and Channing took the opportunity to explain the beliefs of the
church. He began,
"I have thought it my duty to lay before you, as clearly as I can, some
of the distinguishing opinions of that class of Christians in our country, who
are known to sympathize with this religious society."
He went on to explain
why the doctrine of the Trinity should be rejected, which is the main defining
characteristic of Unitarians. The Unitarians joined with the Universalists in
1961, forming today's Unitarian Universalist denomination.
Throughout history, the church has been committed to community service
and social justice. During the Civil War, the Reverend John F.W. Ware worked
with abolitionists and tended Union soldiers. He later organized and directed
The Baltimore Association for the Moral and Intellectual Improvement of Colored
People, which established more than 200 schools for freed slaves. In 1874, the
congregation organized Baltimore's first vocational school for teenagers.
In the late 1800s, the congregation oversaw a major reconstruction of
the sanctuary. A barrel-valuted ceiling was added, along with a Niemann organ,
a Tiffany mosaic and six Tiffany, stained-glass windows. Baltimore
philathropist and congregation member, Enoch Pratt donated the Parish Hall in
1879, It was built from the bricks of the house demolished on Mulberry Street
to make way for the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
The exterior church building
has remained mostly unchanged since its 1817-1818 construction.
The
First Unitarian Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on
February 11, 1972 and designated a National Historic Landmark on February 20,
1972. It is within the Baltimore National Heritage Area. It is included in the
Cathedral Hill Historic District and the Baltimore National Heritage Area.
French architect Maximilian Godefroy also design the Battle Monument
The Battle Monument, located in Battle Monument Park on Calvert Street
between Fayette and Lexington Streets in Baltimore, Maryland, commemorates the
Battle of Baltimore and honors those who died during the month of September 1814
during the War of 1812. The monument lies in the middle of the street and is
between the two Baltimore City Circuit Courthouses that are located on the
opposite sides of Calvert Street.
The monument, designed by Baltimore
architect Maximilian Godefroy and built in 1815-25, is 39 feet tall and is
unusual in having an Egyptian Revival cenotaph base which suggests a tomb.
The monument is depicted on the seal of the City of Baltimore that was adopted
in 1827 and the city's flag adopted in the early 20th century.
The eighteen layers of the marble base represent the eighteen states that made
up the United States at the time of the war. A griffin is at each corner of the
base.
The monument is topped by a marble statue by Antonio Capellano of a female
figure representing Baltimore that wears a crown of victory and holds in one
hand a laurel wreath and in the other a ship's rudder.
A griffin is at each corner of the base.
The column, carved as a Roman fasces, is bound with cords listing the names of
soldiers who died during the battle, while the names of officers who died are at
the top.
The eighteen layers of the marble base represent the eighteen states that made
up the United States at the time of the war. A griffin is at each corner of the
base.
Maximilian Godefroy (c. 1770- c.1847) by Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860) Date: c. 1815
Maximilian Godefroy (1765 – circa 1838) was a French-American architect.
Godefroy was born in France and educated as a civil engineer. During the French
Revolution he fought on the Royalist side. Later, as an anti-Bonaparte activist,
he was imprisoned in the fortress of Bellegarde, then released about 1805 and
allowed to come to the United States, settling in Baltimore, Maryland, where he
became an instructor in art and architecture at St. Mary's College, the
Sulpician Seminary.
By 1808 Godefroy had married Eliza Crawford Anderson, a member of one of
Baltimore's prominent families. While in Baltimore, he designed a number of
structures including the St. Mary's Seminary Chapel, the Battle Monument, and
the Unitarian Church. Other projects included the Commercial and Farmers Bank
(demolished), as well as gates and monuments in the Westminster churchyard, the
sally port at Fort McHenry, as well as submitting designs for the Washington
Monument.
Godefroy became acquainted with Benjamin Henry Latrobe, and married Eliza
Crawford Anderson, whose father, Dr. John Crawford, was one of the founders of
the College of Medicine of Maryland. However, while working with Latrobe on the
Baltimore Merchant's Exchange (demolished to make way for the U.S. Custom House
in 1904), Godefroy and Latrobe fell out. Latrobe was to have contributed the
overall design, while Godefroy was to execute the drawings and supervise
construction. Godefroy changed the plans to reflect his own ideas.
After parting company, Latrobe continued to credit Godefroy with the design
for the front of the Exchange, and did not compete with him for the First
Unitarian Church. Godefroy, however, blamed Latrobe for his inability to obtain
work in Baltimore. Godefroy left Baltimore in 1819 for England, his daughter
dying of yellow fever before the ship had cleared Chesapeake Bay. He worked for
a while in London, then moved on to France. Prior to his death in 1840 he
designed a new wing to the Palais de Justice and the Préfecture, both at Laval,
Mayenne, France.
The First Unitarian Church built 1817-1818 Baltimore, Maryland designed by French architect Maximilian Godefroy
A terracotta relief in the building's pediment of the Angel of truth was
executed by Antonio Cappellano a Italian sculptor working in Washington D.C. on
the Capital building, who had executed the Battle Monument also designed by
Maximilian Godefroy. Deterioration caused it to be replaced with a replica in
1954.On a scroll is a Greek inscription that translates "To the One God."
Original door under the portico
The doors of the church was originality painted to look like bronze
A terracotta relief in the building's pediment of the Angel of truth was
executed by Antonio Cappellano a Italian sculptor working in Washington D.C. on
the Capital building, who had executed the Battle Monument also designed by
Maximilian Godefroy. Deterioration caused it to be replaced with a replica in
1954.On a scroll is a Greek inscription that translates "To the One God."
The portico's round arches
Portrait of American theologian William Ellery Channing, 1811, by American painter Washington Allston (1779–1843). Oil on canvas.
One of my paintings of the church
I did a series of painting of the tree front doors of the church
This is how the original interior looked like
The church in the 1930's
The original central 1817-18 dome painted with Trompe-l'œil panels and rosettes
is still atop the 1893 barrel vault. Some times the church opens it up to the
public
The original central 1817-18 dome painted with Trompe-l'œil panels and rosettes
is still atop the 1893 barrel vault. Some times the church opens it up to the
public
The original central 1817-18 dome painted with Trompe-l'œil panels and rosettes
is still atop the 1893 barrel vault. Some times the church opens it up to the
public
The pipe organ was donated by Enoch Pratt and is a Niemann instrument.
Poor acoustics under the original central dome led to an 1893 interior
renovation, in which architect Joseph Evans Sperry added abarrel vault under the
dome. The church features stained glass from the studio of Louis Comfort Tiffany
of New York city.
The glass mosaic of the Last Supper over the alter as well as the stained
glass windows are from the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany of New York.
Enoch Pratt donated the Parish Hall in 1879, It was built from the bricks of
the house demolished on Mulberry Street to make way for the Enoch Pratt Free
Library.
Harry Payson
The founder of First Unitarian Church, Payson was President of Union Bank.
He also served nine terms as a city councilman, was chairman of the Commission
of the Susquehanna Canal and was Judge fot he Orphan's Court. A member of the
"Committee of Vigilance and Safety," he lobbied for federal money and supplied
materials to Fort McHenry to defend the city against British attack. The
committee was credited for the failure of the British Navy's attack on Fort
McHenry and North Point, thus saving Baltimore from invasion during the War of
1812 and turning the tide to a U.S. victory over England.
Jared Sparks
The first minister of First Unitarian, Sparks was also Chaplain of the U.S.
House of representatives and served as advisor to then ewly founded and
struggling Unitarian congregation in Washington. He founded and edited
Unitarian Miscellany and Christian Monitor, the first avowedly Unitarian
periodical in the U.S.
The French architect Maximilian Godefroy of the church also design the church
furniture made of carved birds-eye maple now painted circa 1818.
The original marble and cast iron alter ca, 1818
Detail of the original marble alter
The French architect Maximilian Godefroy of the church also design the church alter and furniture made of carved birds-eye maple now painted circa 1818.
Original alter chair design by French architect Maximilian Godefroy
Original alter settee design by French architect Maximilian Godefroy
Original alter chair design by French architect Maximilian Godefroy
The glass mosaic of the Last Supper over the alter is from the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany of New York.
Stained
glass windows are from the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany of New York.
A original Neoclassical plaster ceiling medallion
The marble urn light is a part of the original alter furniture
Upstairs behind the organ is the pews for the slaves untouched and in it's
original 1818 condition
Upstairs behind the organ is the pews for the slaves untouched and in it's
original 1818 condition
Upstairs behind the organ is the pews for the slaves untouched and in it's
original 1818 condition
Upstairs behind the organ is the pews for the slaves untouched and in it's
original 1818 condition
terracotta study head of the "Angel of Truth"
Plaster study for the "Angel of Truth"
A terracotta relief in the building's pediment of the Angel of truth was
executed by Antonio Cappellano a Italian sculptor working in Washington D.C. on
the Capital building, who had executed the Battle Monument also designed by
Maximilian Godefroy. Deterioration caused it to be replaced with a replica in
1954.On a scroll is a Greek inscription that translates "To the One God."
Detail of the terracotta relief in the building's pediment of the Angel of truth was
executed by Antonio Cappellano a Italian sculptor working in Washington D.C. on
the Capital building, who had executed the Battle Monument also designed by
Maximilian Godefroy. Deterioration caused it to be replaced with a replica in
1954.On a scroll is a Greek inscription that translates "To the One God."
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