Historic Walking Tour - Full Gospel Assembly Church

Significance

The Full Gospel Assembly Church building is the only Spanish Colonial Revival non-residential building remaining in downtown Corvallis. It is the only church building remaining on this portion of 4th Street, which at one time boasted numerous churches. The church is intact and is a good but simplified example of the style. 

Physical Description 

The Full Assembly Gospel Church building was constructed in 1930 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture. The two story concrete brick building is covered with a painted concrete veneer. Rectangular in form, the 50' x 100' building is situated on an east-west axis, fronting west. There is a basement beneath the building. 

The front gable-end is scalloped with a curvilinear parapet termination. On the south corner is a tower-like projection which was intended to simulate a bell tower. The curvilinear parapet and tower resemble a mission-church facade. The rear (east elevation) gable-end is gambrel in appearance. 

All window openings on the building have double, round-headed, brick arch surrounds and segmental brick sills. The sashes have multiple panes. Elliptical windows in heavy surrounds are featured on the front facade. Window fenestration is symmetrical. 

The gable-roofed front entrance porch is not original. The more recent glass front door is set in the original round-arched opening The north wall is intact, having escaped alteration when a neighboring building to the north was constructed with an alley in between. An interior brick chimney is present on the north wall. The interior of the church has been modified to accommodate a coffee bean roasting and coffee service business. Shrubbery enhances the front exposure of the building. 

Historical Background 

The Full Gospel Assembly Church constructed this building in 1930 but only occupied the church for a few years. The Foursquare Gospel Church, still operating in Corvallis, next occupied the building. In about 1940, the Church of the Nazarene held services here until 1959, when they moved to another location in Corvallis. 

The church building was erected at the tail-end of the National popularity of mission-spanish colonial revival architecture (c.1890-1930). Characteristic features on the church building are the curvilinear parapet, simulated bell tower, round-arched multiple-paned window openings, and stucco appearance. Today, the building is painted a pale pink. 

Sources Consulted

• Benton County Deed Records, Benton County Courthouse, Corvallis, Oregon
• Corvallis Telephone Directories, Benton County Historical Museum.