Welcome to Christ Church. Near the corner of Park Avenue and 60th Street, you will see the cornerstone, which was laid in November 1931. Looking west on 60th Street toward the northeast corner of Madison Avenue, you can see the site of the predecessor church, Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal, which planned and executed Christ Church. That church was demolished in the 1940s.
Christ Church is built in the Romanesque style, which dominated Europe and the Byzantine Empire from about the fourth century until about the 11th century, so it reflects the early, undivided church. The style is simple on the exterior with the use of different stones and marble to bring out patterns such as the chevrons on the facade. As with many such churches, the glory is within. Before we go inside, look at the carved capitals of the columns around the main door. These illustrate the instruments of Christ's Passion – the crown of thorns and the three nails; the seamless tunic and the dice the soldiers cast to divide His clothes; Judas' bag of silver; and the scourges with which Christ was whipped.
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