Suburban Church, The
Modernism and Community in Postwar America
Gretchen Buggeln
368 pages | ~10 hrs
Suburban Church, The
Modernism and Community in Postwar America
By Gretchen Buggeln
After World War II ended, American religious communities embarked on an unprecedented building campaign that would reshape both worship and suburban landscapes. In this meticulously researched exploration, Gretchen Buggeln reveals how Protestant congregations and visionary architects collaborated to create a new sacred architecture for the modern age.
Drawing from architectural records, congregational archives, and personal testimonies, this study examines the remarkable partnerships between innovative architects like Edward D. Dart, Edward A. Sovik, and Charles E. Stade with seventy-five Midwestern congregations. Together, they designed modernist churches that challenged traditional worship spaces while addressing the spiritual needs of rapidly changing communities.
Buggeln demonstrates how these striking buildings became more than architectural statements. They embodied the religious optimism, ecumenical spirit, and liturgical experimentation of their era, while also reflecting deep concerns about maintaining spiritual relevance amid sweeping cultural transformation. These congregations faced the complex challenge of serving God while meeting the expectations of suburban middle-class families who demanded both spiritual nourishment and community connection.
Rather than dismissing these communities as superficial "country club" churches, this thoughtful analysis reveals earnest religious seekers navigating the tension between sacred calling and social context. For readers interested in how physical spaces shape spiritual experience, this book offers profound insights into the relationship between architecture, faith, and community in postwar America.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore ARCHITECTURE
- ✓ Explore SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion
- ✓ Explore Church buildings, united states
- ✓ Explore ARCHITECTURE / Buildings / Religious
- ✓ Explore Buildings
- ✓ Explore Contemporary (1945- )
- ✓ Explore SOCIAL SCIENCE
- ✓ Explore Midcentury modern (Architecture)
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2015
- Publisher
- Univ Of Minnesota Press
- ISBN-13
- 9780816694969
- ISBN-10
- 0816694966
- Pages
- 368
- Language
- EN
