Central Christian Church

The Central Christian Church of Austin is a prominent Romanesque Revival complex located just west of the Texas Capitol complex in downtown Austin. Completed in 1929, the U-shaped building consists of a sanctuary, an education and community building, a connecting building and arcade, and an unfinished bell tower. The building is recognizable by its monumental yellow brick façade dominated by a 42-foot-high stained-glass arch.

Organized in 1847, the congregation of Central Christian Church is one of the oldest in Austin. The 1929 church complex’s unique sense of place stems from two distinct—and seemingly opposing—characteristics: the monumentality and grandeur of its traditional Romanesque worship spaces versus the informal vernacular style of its gardens and outdoor spaces.

The main sanctuary is the most distinctive and dominant element of the complex. Its east façade, set slightly forward from the façade of the adjacent community building, employs architectural elements that firmly establish the sanctuary as a monument. The design marks the corner of 12th and Guadalupe streets, a downtown location in close proximity to the Capitol, as a significant place for both the congregation and the city.

Stepping inside the massive archway, visitors encounter an architectural style rarely seen in Austin. Deep green marble columns, adorned with ornate capitals, are bathed in a surreal light from south-facing stained-glass windows; their unusual hues create a unique atmosphere. The sheer height of the space commands attention: as one’s gaze is drawn upward, it becomes lost in the dizzying detail of the intricately painted, exposed roof trusses. The long nave culminates in an altar reminiscent of the Pantheon, one of the great classical Roman architectural achievements. A half-dome, mystically lit by an unseen source, sanctifies the altar as the holiest space in the church.

In stark contrast to the interior’s traditional architectural elements, which are rooted in ancient Christian and Mediterranean precedents, the exterior spaces and gardens reflect a more local vernacular style. The courtyard facing Guadalupe Street features one particular element that distinguishes this church complex from its European predecessors: the pulpit. While courtyards and cloisters in European churches are typically associated with quiet contemplation and solitude, here the addition of a pulpit introduces an element of worship deeply rooted in the history of the place. Indigenous people in Mexico and Texas were accustomed to worshipping in outdoor complexes (such as the pyramids at Teotihuacan); thus, European missionaries discovered that locals were far more open to practicing Christianity in an outdoor setting. Consequently, many early churches in the Americas incorporated an outdoor worship space—typically a pulpit facing a large courtyard or lawn—alongside the indoor sanctuary.

From Guadalupe Street, walk around the building on 12th Street, and turn onto San Antonio Street; notice how the strict order of the traditional structure gradually gives way to a vibrant ecosystem of native plants. Gone are the manicured lawns that one might expect of a revivalist building; instead, overflowing beds of wildflowers flank the sidewalk. Along San Antonio Street, an entire hillside teems with vegetation. It is a wild, natural haven within an urban setting—nature brought to the concrete jungle. – James Mustillo, AIA