City Methodist Church, Indiana  

Originally the largest Methodist Church in the Midwest, the City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana served its growing community from 1925 to 1975. Built on land donated by U.S. Steel, this church was constructed utilizing locally sourced Indiana limestone. The sanctuary contains beautiful features like a pipe organ, stained glass windows, and an oak-carved chancel and altar. Adjacent to the main building, Seaman Hall houses a fellowship hall, offices, a kitchen and dining area, a gymnasium, Sunday school rooms, a theater-sized screen, and a stage for hosting concerts and community productions.

Reverend William G. Seaman had a progressive vision for the City Methodist Church, aiming to create a place of worship for the numerous immigrants working at U.S. Steel. However, his approach in combating segregation encountered resistance from some members of the congregation.

In its peak during the 1950s, the City Methodist Church’s congregation reached 3,000 members. Unfortunately, by the early 1970’s, the number had dwindled to just over 300. In its final years, the church began to open its doors to the Black community.

The decline in the steel industry and subsequent economic hardships faced by the city of Gary led to the closure of the church. In 1975, as financial difficulties and maintenance challenges became insurmountable, the Church closed its doors.

For two decades, the two buildings remained vacant, slowly crumbling. In October 1997, numerous devastating fires broke out in downtown Gary. The strong winds blew embers from neighboring buildings onto the wood roof of the City Methodist Church, causing it to catch fire and eventually collapse. Today, much of the crumbling buildings still remain.

Sources:

  • Carlson, Carol “Historic marker honors Gary’s City Methodist Church” September 2019, https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-city-methodist-marker-st-0915-20190914-7zvnt4nppfgu3fklunsohbkuai-story.html

  • Christopher, Matthew “Gary, Indiana” February 2023, https://www.abandonedamerica.us/gary-indiana

  • Poletika, Nicole “City Church: Spirituality and Segregation in Gary” May 2019, https://blog.history.in.gov/city-church-spirituality-and-segregation-in-gary/

  • Shepard, Korry “Gary: Arson World (Part 4) May 2021, https://garyrailblog.medium.com/gary-arson-world-part-4-df0216333b00