(This photo essay is a sidebar to two articles about First Christian Church in Columbus, Ind.: “Acclaimed Church Building Copes with Aging” and “First Christian: A ‘Modern’ Masterwork.”)
Steve Yeaton, senior minister of First Christian Church, Columbus, Ind., shared a PowerPoint file of the evolution of a Skylight repair project at the church.
The skylight is positioned above the sanctuary—the baptistery, specifically—and provides that room with natural light; it is an original part of the 1942 church, known internationally for its Modern architectural design. Unfortunately, the skylight had serious water damage and was leaking. The skylight ultimately was repaired for $166,000—more than was anticipated, according to church elder Steve Wiggins.
The skylight project was deemed the most pressing repair needed by an architectural engineering firm that performed a comprehensive review of the church in 2014-15.
Steve Yeaton not only spent much of his youth in Columbus, his dad was associate minister at First Christian with T.K. Smith when Steve was born [in 1967]. Who knew 50 years later he’d come home to accept the position of senior minister? One more story of how God works in mysterious ways! He feels honored to have this opportunity. I’m glad he shared this with me. I’m a regular reader of Christian Standard. It was fascinating to watch this work being done from Bartholomew County Public Library, right across the street. Library visitors were inconvenienced a couple of days while repairs were made.
Dot Yeaton