# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S751
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 751

| Report of the Committee on Church Architecture

F (Unprinted Memorial 22)

& Many new churches have been built during the past three
years in spite of the abnormally high cost of construction. These
range, of course, from the imposing places of worship of our

i ctablished congregations to the humble chapels of newly organized

Our congregations are learning gradually that soundness of
construction is more important than size and exterior ornament.
F In one geographical area in particular, the recent church buildings
B of our Synod have attracted favorable attention because of. their
E jermanent materials, neatness of design, and dignity of interior
FE equipment.

. A number of large, beautiful photographs of church buildings
E’ of recent date were sent in for the convention exhibit of our com-
3 mittee. It was a surprise to observe that so large a proportion of
: these buildings are of stone construction. In most cases the chancel
furnishings and other interior fittings were designed by the archi-
tects of the buildings, and in design and scale they harmonize well
with the church buildings themselves.

The high cost of new church organs has led a number of our
congregations to rebuild old organs. Where such organs were built
by firms noted for their use of lasting materials and careful work-
manship, the results have usually been entirely satisfactory. Cer-
® tainly the works of such eminent builders as Henry Erben, E. &
‘ G. G. Hook, W. A. Johnson & Son, Hilborne & Frank Roosevelt,
J. H. & C. S. Odell, George Hutchings, and Farrand & Votey, who
flourished 50 to 100 years ago, are well worth careful restoration.
European churches rebuild their organs with great care, and
a number of organs of Bach’s day still survive.

Mr. John J. Zink of Baltimore, a member of your Committee,
died August 10, 1952, at the age of 66, after practicing architecture
for 40 years. Mr. A. F. Bernhard of Yonkers, chairman of your
Committee from 1923 to 1936, died December 24, 1952, at the age
of 82. Both were active Lutheran laymen and prominent in their
home congregations and in the general work of Synod in their
communities.

At a recent meeting of your Committee, Mr. Harold C. Bern-
hard of Yonkers was elected chairman. Mr. Bernhard is a member
of the firm of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, who built the Empire State
Building. He has specialized in church design and has a number of
buildings of recognized merit in New York and vicinity.

F. R. Wesser, Secretary