First Baptist Church

Lafayette, Indiana

A 175th Anniversary Event

SLIDE SHOW BY MOHLER ARCHITECTS, P.C.

A VIRTUAL TOUR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA

PART TWO

1872 ARCHITECTURAL

TECHNOLOGY• HEAVY TIMBER ROOF TRUSSES

• METALS – DECORATIVE BRACKETS, COPPER SPIRES

• METALS – DECORATIVE BRACKETS, COPPER SPIRES

• THE CEILING FRESCOS

• THE CEILING FRESCOS

• THE CEILING FRESCOS

CHURCH OF THE

QUATREFOIL• In architecture and traditional Christian symbolism, a quatrefoil is a symmetrical shape which

forms the overall outline of four partially-overlapping circles of the same diameter.

• Among the most famous works of art employing the quatrefoil are the bronze panels on the South

Doors of the Baptistery in Florence by Andrea Pisano, the bronze panels of the North Doors of the

Baptistery in Florence by Lorenzo Ghiberti, and also Filippo Brunelleschi's famous competition

entry for the same doors, The Sacrifice of Isaac) as well as "Head of an Angel" by Piero della

Francesca.

CHURCH OF THE

QUATREFOIL• The quatrefoil is an ancient symbol of good luck, a Celtic symbol representing "the wheel of

being," as well as a Christian symbol of the cross. It is particularly evident in Gothic architecture. It

is described as a tracery constructed with four equal foils. In historic Christianity, the four petals of

the quatrefoil represented the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They can also

represent the "four ends of the earth," or the Native American prayer to the North, East, South and

West.

• In Baptist heritage, our houses of worship have historically been unadorned to avoid the pretense

of idolatry. In more progressive Baptist churches, such as First Baptist Church Lafayette, since

1870, there was a desire to stress what we hold in common with mainstream Christianity.

Thus, our building began to have more ornamentation