Town Center

The Church of Comstock is the first area of the first level that Booker DeWitt finds himself in after the lighthouse transports him to Columbia in BioShock Infinite.

History
When Zachary Hale Comstock first dreamed of Columbia, he envisioned it as a heavenly paradise for the truly deserving. As the city became reality, he gained a flock of devoted followers and developed a Christian-like mythos surrounding him such as the story that the Angel Columbia came to him with the vision for the city. Understandably, he built a literal church to serve as the foundation of his city. The church not only served as a place of congregation for the faithful, but also served as the location for all transportation capsules to dock when bringing new pilgrims to the city's Welcome Center. Comstock's old acquaintance Preacher Witting was put in charge of the sanctuary to ensure that all new citizens receive the required baptism before being allowed to enter further.

BioShock Infinite
As the transportation capsule gently drifts through the floating city, it comes to rest in the topmost pinnacle of the church. Booker emerges to find the place of worship adorned with statues and stained-glass windows depicting Father Comstock, the Lamb of Columbia, and Lady Comstock. The Welcome Center's alcoves are filled with hundreds of lit prayer candles and offertory gifts. The floors on both the upper and lower levels are immersed in shallow, slowly flowing water. He descends into the main chamber, where Columbia's citizens pray and listen to the facility's overseer Preacher Witting. Witting takes note of the newcomer and offers him a baptism. Though Booker is hesitant, he accepts the rite in order to enter the city. The blind preacher responds by submerging Booker until he loses consciousness.

When he wakes up, he finds himself in the Garden of New Eden, the shrine's prayer garden. From there he sets out on his journey to Monument Island just as the floating island the Church of Comstock travels on docks with the rest of Columbia.

Behind the Scenes

 * As Booker descends into the baptismal center, he passes three stained glass windows with displaying the Latin names of the three symbols of the Founding Fathers (Sword = Gladium; Key = Clavem; Scroll = Volumen). Even though Booker doesn't mention it, he wonders about the false Latin and realizes that sword means gladius and key clavis. He shrugs his head, because Comstock used the accusative ending instead of the nominative case.