New Jerusalem Church
Life Span: 1862-1871
Location: Michigan and Adams
Architect: John M. Van Osdel
- Halpin’s Chicago City Directory for 1864
Chicago Society of the New Jerusalum. Adams street, between Wabash and Michigan avenues. Organized February, 1843. Church erected 1862.
John C. W. Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for 1867
New Jerusalem Swedenborgian Church, J. R. Hibbard, pastor, Adams, bet. Michigan and Wabash avs.
Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Chicago Society of the New Jerusalum—The Temple is located on Adams street near the Lake. Rev, J. R. Hibbard, pastor, residence, 70 Third avenue. Devine service 10:30 a.m. Sabbath school meets 9:45 a.m. Orlando Blackman, superintendent.
Chicago Daily Tribune, November 17, 1862
CHICAGO SOCIETY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM
Dedication of the New Temple. Description of the Edifice..
According to previous notice, the New Jerusalem Temple, situated on Adams street, near Michigan avenue, was dedicated yesterday morning. The services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. R. Hibbard, assisted by Rev. Chauncey Giles, of Cincinnati.
This society was organized in February, 1848, since which time it has worshipped at the church on Harrison street, near State. Under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Mr. Hibbard, the society has been greatly prospered, and now embraces about 150 adult members, and the Sabbath School has an average attendance of some fifty pupils.
The new Temple is Norman Gothic in style—the outer surface of rock-faced stone, the two columns and corners upon the front elevation being surmounted by cut-stone turrets. Above the front door is a tablet bearing the name of “The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem.” Over this and surmounting the front window, is a tablet, bearing an inscription of an open Bible—the illuminated Word—with appropriate passages from the Old and New Testaments, engraved upon the open pages, in Greek and Hebrew, the whole surmounted by the Latin inscription-“Verbum Dominie manet in Eternum.” (The Word of the Lord endureth forever.)
The Temple is about sixty feet high, fifty feet width and sevents-six in depth, substautially built of stone, and covered with slate.
The audience chamber is finished in the same style of architecture—the windows and doors being surmounted by arches and centre arches. The altar and Tabernacle are of solid mahogany, the seats, doors and other woodwork oak-grained. At the side of the chancel is a recess for the organ, faced by an ornamental screen, consisting of a combination of columns, arches and quatre-foils, the whole surmounted by an o-g arch, terminating in a carved finiel. A similar space oa the opposite side of the chancel is occupied by the robing-room, with a corresponding finish. A new organ costing about $2,000 will be procured at an early day. The seats are roomy and comfortable, the entire church neatly carpeted and upholstered. The andience chamber has capacity for seating soma 350 persons. In the basement is a lecture and Sabbath school room, pastor’s study, library janitor’s room, &c. The whole building is heated by furnaces located in the cellar (which extends under the entire building.)
The Interior as well as the exterior of the building are neat and symetrical, and if stability of structure and convenience of arrangement has been the aim of the architect and builders, they have accomplished their end.
The Temple was deelgned by, and constructed under the superintendence of Mr. Sanford E. Loring, a student with J. M. Van Osdel, esq.—and is creditable to the skill of the designer. The stone work was done by R. J. & J. D. Morse. Carpenter work by Amos Grannis. Painting by Barry & Cushing.
The Temple cost about $17,000, and is all paid for. The society declined carrying the work forward faster than their means would justify—determined not to attempt to dedicate to the worship of God temple that was mot their own.
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