page_title: First Baptist Church (Columbus, Indiana)
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: First Baptist Church (Columbus, Indiana) / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: First Baptist Church, Columbus, Indiana (originally Fairlawn Baptist Church) - as built in mid-1960's
context_page_description: First Baptist Church is one of six national historic landmarks in Columbus, Indiana. It was designed by distinguished architect Harry Weese; construction was completed in 1965. Since completion, few alterations have been made and the building has retained its integrity.
context_section_description: The First Baptist Church was one of Columbus's early congregations.  It occupied a previous site (which has not been preserved) before moving to Fairlawn Drive in 1965.  The facility occupies a 7.1-acre (29,000 m²) site at the base of a gently sloping hill which the group chose because the site allowed room for growth and parking.  The parcel originally contained a row of walnut trees along its southern boundary, however other trees have been planted on the grounds.
  The red brick building has five distinct sections (narthex, sanctuary, office wing, fellowship hall, and chapel) built around a central courtyard.  The windows are tall and narrow.
  The sanctuary is the principal interior space of the building.  It is a windowless room, made up of simple elements that combine to create a space that is at the same time dramatic and serene.  Each element is a simple object—a brick wall, a beam, an opening, a skylight—but all exaggerated slightly in size, proportion, or height.
caption: First Baptist Church in the mid-1960s
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