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1. A VIRTUAL TOUR OF
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
OF
LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
PART TWO
First Baptist Church
Lafayette, Indiana
A 175th Anniversary Event
SLIDE SHOW BY MOHLER ARCHITECTS, P.C.

2. 1872 ARCHITECTURAL
TECHNOLOGY
• HEAVY TIMBER ROOF TRUSSES

3. • METALS – DECORATIVE BRACKETS, COPPER SPIRES

4. • METALS – DECORATIVE BRACKETS, COPPER SPIRES

5. • THE CEILING FRESCOS

6. • THE CEILING FRESCOS

7. • THE CEILING FRESCOS

8. CHURCH OF THE
QUATREFOIL
• In architecture and traditional Christian symbolism, a quatrefoil is a symmetrical shape which
forms the overall outline of four partially-overlapping circles of the same diameter.
• Among the most famous works of art employing the quatrefoil are the bronze panels on the South
Doors of the Baptistery in Florence by Andrea Pisano, the bronze panels of the North Doors of the
Baptistery in Florence by Lorenzo Ghiberti, and also Filippo Brunelleschi's famous competition
entry for the same doors, The Sacrifice of Isaac) as well as "Head of an Angel" by Piero della
Francesca.

9. CHURCH OF THE
QUATREFOIL
• The quatrefoil is an ancient symbol of good luck, a Celtic symbol representing "the wheel of
being," as well as a Christian symbol of the cross. It is particularly evident in Gothic architecture. It
is described as a tracery constructed with four equal foils. In historic Christianity, the four petals of
the quatrefoil represented the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They can also
represent the "four ends of the earth," or the Native American prayer to the North, East, South and
West.
• In Baptist heritage, our houses of worship have historically been unadorned to avoid the pretense
of idolatry. In more progressive Baptist churches, such as First Baptist Church Lafayette, since
1870, there was a desire to stress what we hold in common with mainstream Christianity.
Thus, our building began to have more ornamentation