OKC's Unique First Christian Church

The Church of Tomorrow

Oklahoma's state capitol dome was added some 88 years after the capitol was built, finally completed in 2002. But not far away is another dome that has been turning heads since 1956. It's the First Christian Church of Oklahoma City.

Call it a wigwam, igloo, earthbound spaceship or dome- no matter how you describe the shape of the sanctuary, it's definitely eye-catching. The thin-shell concrete dome is massive, with seating for 1200. Connected to the dome is a four-story administrative building and a 185-seat theater. Dedicated as "The First Christian Church of Tomorrow," the architecture caught the attention of local newspapers, as well as Life magazine (Feb. 1957). Last summer I had a unique opportunity to explore these interesting buildings.

The main complex was designed by R. Duane Conner in 1953. Conner was a member of the congregation and offered three different designs for the church. Credit is also attributed to his partner, Fred Pojezny.

It's All About Circles
The footprint of all three buildings in the church complex are round. The largest, and most renowned, is the main sanctuary. Connected by a small stairwell/atrium made of glass and sandstone is the Educational Building. Behind that is the Jewel Box Theater which offers theater-in-the-round. Finally, behind all this is the striking carillon spire, that  has doubled as a cell tower since the Nineties.

At first glance the two smaller structures seem in contrast to the organic lines of  the dome-shaped sanctuary. The center Educational Building has very angular metal awnings that give it a more Euro-industrial look. The little theater is also an angular structure. On my first visit I assumed these two buildings were additions, but was assured they were original. Later research uncovered one possible explanation for this melange.


This aerial view was found in a church history published in the Eighties and appeared in the Daily Oklahoman. Note the location of the reflection pool- now a playground.Browsing through the church archives I found several items of interest. One was a promotional piece published shortly after the congregation approved the building's design. The design they approved was the second offering from Connor, and renderings appear in this promotional brochure. But the tower and sanctuary design we see today are quite different, much more angular than the third variation that was eventually built.

In addition to the main church complex, there are two outlying buildings. One is a youth center and the other is dedicated to the operations of the Oklahoma Interfaith Alliance. Any one of these structures is a treat of Mid-Century Modern architecture; taken together it verges on a hipster Disneyland.

All of these unique structures are at the center of what originally spread across 40 acres in an area known as "Edgemere." The church purchased the property in 1946 when the city decided to move the municipal golf course. A year later a 3500-seat amphitheater was dedicated, and evening services were held "under the stars." It would be almost a decade before the church we see today was built.

You can see the Church of Tomorrow today (or most any day) at 36th Street and North Walker, just a block or so west of I-235, aka the Broadway Extension. Visit these links for more photos and background on this unusual Oklahoma landmark...

• Photos on Flickr
• Conner & Pojezny Designs

Thanks to Lynne Rostochil for providing the photos and scans you'll find at the above links. This material was more than helpful in writing this article. Lynne snaps some wonderful architectural photographs, and also happens to be R. Duane Conner's granddaughter!

• First Christian Church of OKC Home Page

TFA Open House

Here's your chance to see some of Tulsa's unique architectural history. This fifth annual event is open to the public and there is no charge. White gloves provided, formal dress optional.

White Glove Open House
Tulsa Foundation for Architecture Archives
321 S. Boston
Kennedy Building, lower level
Tuesday, January 19
4:30 pm to 7:30 pm

The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture maintains a huge collection of original drawings of some of our most historic buildings. With over 35,000 articles in the collection, the TFA archive is an impressive resource maintaining a link to many aspects of our city's past. And all too often, this may be all that remains of an important piece of Tulsa's skyline.

First Tulsa Mod of the Moment Event

Modern Tulsa has announced an open house event this Sunday, January 17, 2009. This Mod of the Moment event is the first of what we hope will be many!

I think this is a really great idea. During the 2008 National Preservation Conference we were fortunate enough to catch a presentation about Houston Mod presented by Anna Mod (and yes, that is her real name). This non-profit group has accomplished some pretty impressive feats. One that really resonated with me was their "Mod of the Month" program.

The idea is not just to connect buyers and sellers- it's also about educating real estate professionals to recognize there is a market for these "unusual" houses. Homes are often needlessly "improved" to increase their mass-market appeal. This type of relationship with local realtors is a win-win for our community. It's been a huge success for Houston, hopefully we can capture a little of that magic!

To learn more about Houston Mod visit www.houstonmod.org