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Auditorium (Community of Christ)
Encyclopedia
The Auditorium is a house of worship and office building located on the greater Temple Lot
in Independence, Missouri
. The Auditorium is part of the headquarters complex of the Community of Christ
which also includes the Independence Temple
.
Construction of the Auditorium was a massive undertaking, illustrating the vision of church Prophet/President Frederick M. Smith
who provided the building's inspiration. Groundbreaking began in 1926 and the building was only completed in 1958. The Conference Chamber was originally supposed to be about 66% larger than it is today according to the vision of Frederick M. Smith
. Construction was virtually halted during the Great Depression
when the church struggled under a massive debt.
World Conferences
of the church are traditionally held here every two years in the World Conference Chamber, a large hall which seats nearly 6,000. The Conference Chamber is 214' x 168' and it is 92' from the floor to the height of the dome's interior. The exterior of the dome is 114' above street level. Originally, the Auditorium was supposed to have two balconies but was restricted to one balcony to financial limitations. In retrospect, two balconies would have caused acoustical damage to the Auditorium.
The Auditorium houses an Aeolian-Skinner
pipe organ
with 113 ranks and 6,334 pipes. The Auditorium Organ includes an antiphonal console and pipes in the rear balcony of the oval chamber. It is listed in the top 75 largest pipe organs in the world at TheatreOrgans.com. The Auditorium also houses the Children's Peace Pavilion
.
The Auditorium is the site of an annual performance and broadcast of Handel's Messiah
by the Kansas City Symphony
and the Independence Messiah Choir. The Community of Christ International Peace Award
has been awarded to several recipients in ceremonies at the Auditorium as well.
In addition to its use by the church, the Auditorium is made available for high school graduations and cultural events in the Independence and Kansas City, Missouri
area. Numerous dignitaries have spoken in the Auditorium. On June 27, 1945 Independence native Harry S. Truman
spoke at the Auditorium during his first return trip to Independence during his presidency. During his remarks, which were also attended by First Lady Bess Truman
and their daughter Margaret Truman
, President Truman announced that the United States had become a signatory to the United Nations treaty. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell
delivered an address at the Auditorium on July 24, 1998 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the executive order that led to the desegregation of the United States military. Primate researcher and environmentalist Jane Goodall spoke at the Auditorium in 1999. On July 5, 2007, former United States President Bill Clinton
gave the keynote address at the Auditorium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Truman Presidential Library.
The building street address is:
1001 W. Walnut,
Independence, MO 64050 USA
Temple Lot
The Temple Lot, located in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, is the first site to be dedicated for the construction of a temple in the Latter Day Saint movement...
in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. The Auditorium is part of the headquarters complex of the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
which also includes the Independence Temple
Independence Temple
The Temple in Independence, Missouri, is a house of worship and education "dedicated to the pursuit of peace". It dominates the skyline of Independence, Missouri, USA, and has become the focal point of the headquarters of the Community of Christ...
.
Construction of the Auditorium was a massive undertaking, illustrating the vision of church Prophet/President Frederick M. Smith
Frederick Madison Smith
Frederick Madison Smith , generally known among his followers as "Freddie M.", was an American religious leader and author and the third Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , serving from 1915 until his death.Smith's paternal grandfather was Joseph Smith,...
who provided the building's inspiration. Groundbreaking began in 1926 and the building was only completed in 1958. The Conference Chamber was originally supposed to be about 66% larger than it is today according to the vision of Frederick M. Smith
Frederick Madison Smith
Frederick Madison Smith , generally known among his followers as "Freddie M.", was an American religious leader and author and the third Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , serving from 1915 until his death.Smith's paternal grandfather was Joseph Smith,...
. Construction was virtually halted during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
when the church struggled under a massive debt.
World Conferences
World Conference (Community of Christ)
World Conference is the highest legislative body in the Community of Christ and is empowered to act for the entire church. It operates according to a principle known as "common consent" and is presided over by the First Presidency...
of the church are traditionally held here every two years in the World Conference Chamber, a large hall which seats nearly 6,000. The Conference Chamber is 214' x 168' and it is 92' from the floor to the height of the dome's interior. The exterior of the dome is 114' above street level. Originally, the Auditorium was supposed to have two balconies but was restricted to one balcony to financial limitations. In retrospect, two balconies would have caused acoustical damage to the Auditorium.
The Auditorium houses an Aeolian-Skinner
Aeolian-Skinner
Æolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. — Æolian-Skinner of Boston, Massachusetts was an important American builder of a large number of notable pipe organs from its inception as the Skinner Organ Company in 1901 until its closure in 1972. Key figures were Ernest M. Skinner , Arthur Hudson Marks ,...
pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
with 113 ranks and 6,334 pipes. The Auditorium Organ includes an antiphonal console and pipes in the rear balcony of the oval chamber. It is listed in the top 75 largest pipe organs in the world at TheatreOrgans.com. The Auditorium also houses the Children's Peace Pavilion
Children's Peace Pavilion
The Children's Peace Pavilion located at the Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Missouri, was established in 1995 to pursue its mission of "Enriching the lives of children through the pursuit of peace for all."...
.
The Auditorium is the site of an annual performance and broadcast of Handel's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
by the Kansas City Symphony
Kansas City Symphony
The Kansas City Symphony is a United States symphony orchestra based in Kansas City, Missouri. The current music director is conductor Michael Stern. The current home of the Symphony is the Lyric Theatre, located in Downtown Kansas City on 11th Street between Wyandotte and Central Streets...
and the Independence Messiah Choir. The Community of Christ International Peace Award
Community of Christ International Peace Award
The Community of Christ International Peace Award was established to honor and bring attention to the work of peacemaking and peacemakers in the world...
has been awarded to several recipients in ceremonies at the Auditorium as well.
In addition to its use by the church, the Auditorium is made available for high school graduations and cultural events in the Independence and Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
area. Numerous dignitaries have spoken in the Auditorium. On June 27, 1945 Independence native Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
spoke at the Auditorium during his first return trip to Independence during his presidency. During his remarks, which were also attended by First Lady Bess Truman
Bess Truman
Bess Truman , was the wife of Harry S. Truman and First Lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953.-Early life:...
and their daughter Margaret Truman
Margaret Truman
Mary Margaret Truman Daniel , also known as Margaret Truman or Margaret Daniel, was an American singer who later became a successful writer. The only child of US President Harry S...
, President Truman announced that the United States had become a signatory to the United Nations treaty. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
delivered an address at the Auditorium on July 24, 1998 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the executive order that led to the desegregation of the United States military. Primate researcher and environmentalist Jane Goodall spoke at the Auditorium in 1999. On July 5, 2007, former United States President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
gave the keynote address at the Auditorium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Truman Presidential Library.
The building street address is:
1001 W. Walnut,
Independence, MO 64050 USA