Name

Akron Combination Plan

General Range

1880-1920

The Akron Combination Plan was the third thread of the Akron Plan design. It was common in new church construction from 1880 until 1920 and was the most common mode of new religious architecture in the United States from 1890 to 1905. Its layout was designed by George W. Kramer, probably the most prolific Akron Plan architect. Kramer called the design his "Combination Church." Akron Combination Plan (ACP) churches are distinct in their appearance. The main elevation is not a gabled end wall but rather an angled view of the entry tower flanked by gables with large panel or rosette windows. The church building has an L-shape, wrapping around the tower. The main entrance was through the base of the tower, and often at a street corner or intersection. The ACP provided a small-scale design that was more common in rural areas where congregations retained their aversion to Gothic elements but wanted a church with the latest amenities.
 
The interior of ACP churches is rather uniform. The entrance in the tower leads into the highest point of the sanctuary. The floor is sloped, with curved benches organized in a quarter circle in rows radiating out from the pulpit area in the corner opposite the entrance. Benches usually feature Gothic design elements; companies produced catalogs of benches available to be purchased through the mail and shipped by rail. The part of the design that relates to the Akron Plan was the use of a moveable partition that created a classroom space; as with the larger Akron Plan churches, this partition could be folded against the wall to increase the worship space when attendance increased.

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Municipality

Name

Address

Cranesville Borough

10017 MEADVILLE ST

City of Erie

163 W 21 ST

City of Erie

823 CHERRY ST

City of Erie

2220 WAYNE AVE

City of Erie

BROWN AVE

City of Erie

1701 CHESTNUT ST

City of Erie

1005 GERMAN ST

City of Erie

Antioch Missionary Baptist Ch

160 W 20 ST

City of Erie

502 PEACH ST