Seaman envisaged a much larger church to serve the town, wanting to bring a prominent religious presence into what was then a neighbourhood with numerous brothels and drinking establishments.

[1] By 1929, William Seaman had grown unpopular with his parishioners, due at least in part to his interests in cultural diversity (including interfaith pageants).

[2] During the Great Depression, the church leased part of Seaman Hall to Gary College to gain much-needed additional funds.

Crime rates in the area soared, causing more departures, and maintenance costs were ruinous, owing to the church's huge dimensions and the harsh lakefront climate.

The church is a popular destination for urban exploration (though permits are now required) and has even been the location of goth weddings in recent years.

In 2014, the city authorities revived an aborted plan from the early 2000s to turn the site into a large park in which the sanctuary would be the centrepiece, and to demolish the rest of the complex.

[5] The church has been used many times as a film location, including for Soul Survivors, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and parts of Pearl Harbor and Sense8.