First Baptist Church (Bakersfield, California)
First Baptist Church | |
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| Location | 1200 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, California |
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| Coordinates | 35°22′26″N 119°0′54″W / 35.37389°N 119.01500°W |
| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Charles H. Biggar |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000478[1] |
| Added to NRHP | January 2, 1979 |
The First Baptist Church, also known as the Bell Towers, is a historic church complex built in 1931 in Bakersfield, California. The church moved to a new campus in 1977 and the building presently used as an office building.[2] The structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on January 2, 1979.
Structure
[edit]Constructed in 1931, the structure was built of reinforced concrete, with the outside finish, simulating brick, created by a poured cast. Red, Spanish tile shingles cover the roof. A prominent, 70 foot (21 meter) bell tower stands in the center of the south facade, forming part of what was the vestibule and narthex of the church. The south side of the church also features large white oak doors with decorative arches above them. Blind arches and mullions rise to the roof level, giving the structure its Romanesque character. A single story arcade joins the wings of the building and surrounds a landscaped courtyard.[3]
The southwest side of the complex is the original fellowship hall, built in a Mission Revival style. The structure is characterized by lofty arched windows on its west side; on its south side is a large arched window, originally a door, flanked by smaller arched windows. The old fellowship hall and church are connected by a two-story connecting building that continues the overall Mission Revival appearance.[3]
Significance
[edit]Located on a prominent spot in downtown Bakersfield, the First Baptist Church structure is considered one of the finest examples of a decorative concrete structure in the San Joaquin Valley and is a prominent landmark in Bakersfield. It is the only religious structure of its era to survive the 1952 Kern County earthquake that destroyed many of downtown Bakersfield's historic structures. It is also one of the few buildings in the area to remain relatively unaltered over the ensuing years.[3]
See also
[edit]- Bakersfield Register of Historic Places and Areas of Historic Interest
- California Historical Landmarks in Kern County, California
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Kern County, California
References
[edit]- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Our History | Disciples Church". 14 January 2017.
- ^ a b c Chris Brewer, Historic Resources Inventory, State of California -- The Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation, May 10, 1984; copy accessed from City of Bakersfield Cultural Resources Survey Downtown Area, located in the Local History room of the Beale Memorial Library, Bakersfield, California.
External links
[edit]- Disciples Church (formerly First Baptist Church]
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- Churches in Kern County, California
- Buildings and structures in Bakersfield, California
- National Register of Historic Places in Kern County, California
- Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in California
- Churches completed in 1931
- 20th-century Baptist churches in the United States
- Tourist attractions in Bakersfield, California
- Mission Revival architecture in California
- Romanesque Revival church buildings in California