Calvary Presbyterian Church

Calvary Presbyterian Church, standing tall on West Wisconsin Avenue 935, is a Victorian Gothic edifice in the Marquette University district of downtown Milwaukee. Completed in 1870, this grand church features a 105-foot tower with a spire clad in pressed metal on one side and a huge 202-foot tower with a slate-clad spire on the other. These towers, adorned with crosses, are buttressed and stand prominently against the skyline. Calvary Presbyterian Church was formed in 1869 by Presbyterians on the west side of Milwaukee, with early officers including John Plankinton, James B. Bradford, and Samuel C. West - all wealthy businessmen.

Stepping inside, visitors are greeted with a sanctuary where a rose window marks the main entrance between the towers. Calvary Presbyterian Church is not just a beautiful historical church, it also features an indoor prayer labyrinth laid into the floor. This labyrinth, inspired by a 12th-century labyrinth found at the Cathedral of Chartres in France, has eleven circuits with a rosette center and serves as a place of contemplation and prayer.

Over the years, Calvary Presbyterian Church has undergone various repairs and additions. In 1910, a pastor's study and church office were added to the southwest corner, while the south end and roof underwent repair after a fire in 1947. In 1957, a classroom wing was added to the southeast corner. Today, Calvary Presbyterian Church continues to serve its community as one of the best preserved Gothic churches in the city from the period immediately following the Civil War.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons