Boston Ave. Methodist Church

Bruce Goff isn’t a household name in architecture, but in his heyday he was a prolific and creative designer of many impressive art deco projects. Art Deco was purely decorative style, seen as elegant, functional, and ultra modern as well. Early in his career, Goff designed the Boston Ave. Church in Tulsa, which is considered the first church designed in a strictly American style of architecture.

What is interesting about this church is the ongoing dispute over who actually designed it. From what I understand, Goff had an art instructor that developed the motif for the church. The soaring straight lines of the 200 ft. tower represent outreached arms raised up to heaven. Goff developed these sketches into the designs for the church. There is also some dispute from the firm where Goff was working at the time, who claim that other members of the firm also contributed to the project.

The sculptures that adorn the entrances to the church were designed by sculptor, Robert Garrison. While visiting the church, staff members pointed out to me that the church credits Goff’s instructor, Adah Robinson, with the design of this building.

Inside the tower serves as an entrance into the 1,800 seat auditorium on the right. Sunlight enters through the ceiling and through the eleven tall exterior windows behind audience seating. Goff considered geometrical shapes and found materials (common archi-speak) as his motivation in design. Visiting the Boston Ave. Church the complex detail and grand scale of the church were very awe-inspiring.