Battery Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 4201 Brook Road in Richmond, Virginia

OUR SANCTUARY

Battery Park Christian Church has always been fortunate to have members give lovingly to purchase things which enhance the worship experience for us all.

The stained glass windows on each side of the sanctuary were almost literally saved from the wrecking ball by Mrs. W.L. O'Flaherty.  They are almost 100 years old, and had been located in the original Seventh Street Christian Church.  When that structure was dismantled, they were removed and secured for storage in the garage of Mr. Alfred Blake until the current building was ready.  The bronze plaques under each window commemorate the gifts of individuals toward having each one installed into our building.  Note that they are all alike with the exception of the center medallions featuring symbols of the Christian Church.

Also relocated from the original Seventh Street Church was the wainscoting, donated by Mr. Charles Zincke.  The minister's chair, which was made from the same wood, was originally given to Mr. Zincke by Mr. Blake.

Mr. Zincke donated the baptistry, another Seventh Street item.  He, his mother, and sister had been baptized in this facility.

The window over the baptistry, of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, was given to our church by Mrs. Janie Martin, aunt of Marian Layman.

The three stained glass windows above the balcony were purchased new for this building and donated by three brothers, William, Julian, and Richard Anderson.

The single green stained glass window on the stair wall to the balcony was from the Old Sycamore Christian Church, which stood from 1833 to 1870 on 11th Street between Broad and Marshall Streets.  Alexander Campbell, founder of the Disciples church, preached there for their first service.

The silver flower vases were a more recent gift to the church by Mrs. Dolores Gravatt in appreciation for what our youth program had meant in the lives of her children.

The pipe organ was dedicated on May 20, 1973 to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Blake, by their son, I. Norris Blake, "In appreciation for the great happiness and love given to them by Battery Park Christian Church since its beginning in 1921".  The organ, custom designed and built by Lewis & Hitchcock, organ builders in Washington D.C. and Richmond, has 21 ranks of pipes played from a 2 manual and pedal console.  The great division exposed on the left of the baptistry displays the principal chorus of the organ.  The pedal division is located on the right wall.  Behind the grillwork on the right side are the large bass pedal pipes and the Great trumpet pipes.  Hidden behind grillwork on the left is the Swell division.  The pipes were made in Holland by centuries old methods in the classic tradition.  There are a total of 1,177 pipes.  Jim Andrews assisted with the installation and maintains the organ.

Home Page