- Collection:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Presentation Slide Collection, 1968-2000
- Title:
- First Presbyterian Church
- Creator:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
- Contributor to Resource:
- Tiffany, Louis Comfort, 1848-1933
D'Ascenzo, Nicola, 1871-1954
Willet, William, 1869-1921
Wilson, John Simpson, 1796-1873
Downing, Walter T., 1865-1918
Tiffany Studios
D'Ascenzo Studios (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Willet Studios (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Lyons, John Sprole, 1861-1936 - Date of Original:
- 1998
- Subject:
- Architecture
Historic sites--Georgia--Fulton County
Historic buildings--Georgia--Fulton County
Religious architecture--Georgia--Fulton County
Gothic revival (Architecture)
Stained glass windows
Glass painting and staining
Brownstone
Presbyterian church buildings
Cultural property--Protection
Historic preservation--Georgia
Historic buildings--Conservation and restoration - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- color slides
stained-glass windows
churches (buildings)
brownstone (material)
historic preservation
historic buildings - Type:
- Still Image
- Format:
- image/jp2
- Description:
- In 1919, architect Walter T. Downing (1865-1918) designed Atlanta's First Presbyterian Church in a Gothic revival brownstone style. Inside the building are stained glass windows designed by master artists Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), Nicola D’Ascenzo (1871-1954), and William Willet (1869-1921). The windows depict the story of the bible that includes the Old Testament, the apostles, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and his resurrection. Rev. Dr. John Sprole Lyons (1861-1936) preached the first sermon at the current church location on December 5, 1915. Dr. Lyons created a plan to fill the window spaces designed by architect Walter Downing with stained glass windows that would tell the story of the bible from Abraham to the gospel's spread throughout the Roman Empire. Dr. Lyons worked closely with Louis Comfort Tiffany, and then with Nicola D’Ascenzo, to develop the ten "history windows." When Lyons became the church's pastor emeritus in 1936, he remained active in the church, with his primary focus on completing the final four windows. The notes of Georgia architectural historian John Linley (1916-1996), state that the building is made of "burnished sandstone" and that between 1931-1992, twelve stained glass windows were commissioned and installed in the church. Louis Tiffany and Tiffany Studios created the first six, D'Ascenzo Studios the next four, and Willett Studios the final two. When the church was founded on January 8, 1848, there were only nineteen Presbyterians worshiping in a log building. Today (2025), the church currently hosts a congregation of about 2500 members. Located across 16th Street from the High Museum of Art, the church has enjoyed a close relationship with the Atlanta arts community on Peachtree Street, and has broadcast its Sunday morning worship service on WSB AM radio since 1922. Variant names include: First Presbyterian Church. See ref # 100005252 (First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta), https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/national-register-listed-20240710.xlsx
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_420
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_420#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_420/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Additional Rights Information:
- Please contact holding institution for information regarding use and copyright status.
- Holding Institution:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
- Rights:
-
