Our Buildings
Home Church currently utilizes five buildings for church
purposes. Four are used for worship, Christian Education and for offices. The fifth building
is the senior pastor's residence.
The Sanctuary (Saal)
Construction on the Sanctuary, originally known as the Saal, was begun in May of 1798. The
building was designed by Frederic William Marshall, who was the Oeconomus or Administrator
of the Wachovia settlement. The plan called for a simple rectangular structure with an exterior
dimension of 92' x 46' with a ceiling height of 26 feet. The walls were built of solid brick
with a thickness of 2'-6". The interior of the Saal was furnished with simple wooden benches
facing the minister's seat and table located on the north wall.
A balcony was located on the west, south and east walls with the west balcony being built
to accommodate the Tannenberg organ. The windows were of plain glass and were located on the
north, west and south walls. The west windows remain until this day.
By the late 1860's the congregation was beginning to outgrow the Sanctuary. In 1870 the
building was renovated to provide more seating capacity. The benches were removed and new
pews were installed facing the east wall. The southern portion of the balcony was enlarged
and a similar section was added on the north wall. The organ remained on the west balcony.
The old wooden supports for the balconies were replaced with cast iron posts. The sills of
the windows on the north and the south walls were lowered about two feet, six inches and stained
glass windows were installed.
In the early part of the 1900's the congregation was again outgrowing the Sanctuary. Once
again the Saal was renovated. In 1912 and 1913 most of the north wall was removed and an area
for the minister, the choir and a new organ was built. The entire balcony was removed (the
Tannenberg organ had been removed from the balcony in June of 1910) and a new curved balcony
was installed. The support posts from the 1870 renovation were retained. Curved pews were
installed in the balcony and the lower part of the Sanctuary. New stained glass windows, from
the J. & R. Lamb Studio, were also installed at this time.
Since the 1912/13 renovation the Sanctuary has seen only minor changes. In 1959-1960 the interior
woodwork of the church was painted an off white color. The church was rewired and new lighting
was installed. Four of the original five 1800 chandeliers were electrified and reinstalled,
along with two reproductions. The 1913 Kimball organ was replaced by an Aeolian-Skinner.
The Rondthaler Memorial Building was begun in 1912 and was completed in June of 1913.
This three story brick building contains class rooms, offices, the church library, the music
rehearsal room and a chapel. The building is named in honor of Bishop Edward E. Rondthaler.
The Christian Education Building
The Christian Education Building is a five story building that was built in 1941. Classrooms
are located on the third, second and first floors. On the ground floor is the kitchen
and the Fellowship Hall. In the sub-basement is the heating equipment room.
The Bishop's House
The Bishop's House was constructed in 1841 and was the home of Bishop William Henry Van Vleck.
The house was used in later years by two of his successors, Bishop George F. Bahnson and Bishop
Edward E. Rondthaler. The house is used today for meetings and classes.
The Steiner House
The Steiner House was built in 1823 as the residence and shop of the chair maker, Charles
Abraham Steiner. The house has been restored to its 1823 appearance with the exception
of the 1874 kitchen addition. The house is used today as the residence of the senior
pastor of the Home Church congregation.
This page was last updated on:
Thursday, June 08, 2006 12:34:18 PM -0400