As you drive around Huntsville, AL, you will notice a tall steeple piercing the sky. Like a beacon, it draws you toward it. This is the belltower of the First Baptist Church at 600 Governors Dr. SW.
You will definitely want to give into your urge to go and check it out. While beautiful, the steeple isn’t even the most compelling feature of this Mid Century Modern church. The building is even more famous for its dazzling mosaic.
A History Dating Back to the 19th Century
As an organization, the First Baptist Church of Huntsville dates back all the way to 1809, which actually makes it older than Alabama or Huntsville. Originally, the organization called themselves the West Fork of the Flint River Church, and later, the Enon Church. As the community of Huntsville started growing, it became convenient to relocate there.
A church (not this one) was constructed in Huntsville for the group in 1869, and they chose the name “First Baptist Church” in 1893. That building didn’t last long; it was torn down, and in 1895, the First Baptist Church moved into a Gothic style church until 1963.
A few years prior, in 1957, the organization decided it was time for a new, more modern church building in Huntsville. The result is the current church. Construction on the building itself was completed in 1966. Gordon Smith began his work on the famous mosaic that same year, and finished it in 1973. In 1987, construction wrapped up on the bell tower.
A Futuristic Church for the Space Age
The modern First Baptist Church in Huntsville was designed during the Space Age. During that era, the Huntsville area became home to the Redstone Arsenal and the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Rockets and missiles were constructed in local facilities, and many members of the First Baptist Church were involved in their development.
As a result, it made sense to capture that in the building’s Neo-Formalist architecture. Soaring arches, a rocket-shaped bell tower, stained glass windows featuring celestial objects, and a breathtaking mosaic all convey the majesty of space.
Dominating the façade of the First Baptist Church, Gordon Smith’s mosaic features over a million tiles (or over two million, according to some sources), each measuring three quarters of an inch. It spans 47 by 154 feet. The materials for the mosaic weigh 6 tons.
People often refer to the mosaic as the “Eggbeater Jesus.” While his head and face are depicted clearly, his body is an abstract, consisting of a cross with the Alpha and Omega symbols in the middle. The bottom of the cross has an eggbeater appearance. This suggests Jesus is “whisking up” the cosmos and bringing it into order for us all to experience.
So, if you are in Huntsville, do not miss out on your chance to stop by the First Baptist Church. Even if all you do is step out of your car for a moment to marvel at the mosaic and the lofty arches, its cosmic construction will inspire and uplift you.
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