Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, Dyersville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Basilica of St. Francis Xavier,
Church and Rectory |
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The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 114 2nd St. SW Dyersville, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1889 |
| Architect | Fridolin Heer and Son |
| Architectural style | Neo-Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001205 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1999 |
The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier is a beautiful church in Dyersville, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The church is named after the missionary Saint Francis Xavier. In 1956, it received the special title of a "minor basilica." This means it has a special connection to the Pope. The church and its rectory (the house where the priest lives) were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
History of the Basilica
Dyersville was first settled by English immigrants. Later, many German immigrants moved to the area. A church community was started for them in 1859. The first St. Francis Xavier Church was finished in 1862. The community grew quickly, so the church had to be doubled in size by 1869. By 1880, it was clear that the old church building was too small for the growing number of people.
Plans for a new church began in the mid-1880s. The parish decided on a large building in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old European cathedrals. Architects Fridolin Heer Sr. and his son Fridolin Heer Jr. from Dubuque, Iowa designed the church. The priest at the time, Anton Kortenkamp, made sure the altar was placed on a solid rock foundation. This was important for the altar to be officially blessed.
Construction started in 1887, and the first stone was laid on June 3, 1888. Bishop John Hennessy officially opened the new church on December 3, 1889. Special trains brought people from all over Iowa to see the ceremony. The church cost about $100,000 to build. After the new church was finished, the old church became classrooms. It was later torn down when a new school was built. Electric lights were added to the church in 1904.
The inside of the church is decorated with many paintings and frescoes. These are paintings done on wet plaster. Much of this work was done by artists Clotilda and Alphonse Brielmaier from 1904 to 1905.
The rectory, the priest's house, was built next to the church in 1935. This brick house has 14 rooms. It includes both private living spaces and offices. A garage and a walkway connect the rectory to the church.
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The idea to make St. Francis Xavier a minor basilica started in the 1940s. Father Mathias M. Hoffman, who had been a military chaplain, began to ask officials in the Vatican about this. A high-ranking German Cardinal, Konrad von Preysing, visited the church, which helped the cause. In the mid-1950s, the church building was consecrated. This means it was officially dedicated to God and can only be used for religious purposes. Inside, there are small gold crosses on the walls. These mark the twelve spots where the walls were anointed with special oil during the consecration. A church must be debt-free before it can be consecrated.
On May 11, 1956, Pope Pius XII officially made the church a minor basilica. It was only the twelfth church in the United States to receive this special honor. A large ceremony was held, attracting many people and important religious leaders from across the state.
An addition was built on the south side of the basilica in 1989. It includes an elevator for people with disabilities, restrooms, and access to the church's basement.
In the mid-1990s, the church began offering a special Sunday service called the Tridentine Mass in Latin. Today, the Noon Mass is offered in Spanish.
The inside of the church was cleaned and repaired from 2000 to 2001. The paintings and frescoes were cleaned. Some frescoes that had been covered by paint were uncovered and restored. The main altars, side altars, and statues were also cleaned and fixed. This work was possible thanks to a generous gift from a church member.
Features of the Church Building
The basilica is built in the Ruskinian Gothic Revival style. It has two tall steeples, each 212 feet (65 meters) high. Crosses that are 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall sit on top of the steeples. These tall steeples make the church easy to see from miles away across the farmland. Pilots often use them as landmarks when flying.
The church building is a rectangular shape, measuring 174.5 feet (53.2 meters) long and 70 feet (21 meters) wide. It is 76 feet (23 meters) high. It has a rounded section called an apse on its west side. Inside, you'll see columns and vaulted ceilings, which are high, arched ceilings. The church can seat about 1,000 people. The entire church community has about 5,000 members.
The church has 64 large cathedral glass windows. Two windows are especially notable. The first is the beautiful rose window above the main entrances. It was installed in 1959. This window replaced an older one that was falling apart. The new rose window has an Indian design. This design honors the many local Native American tribes who lived in the area 150 years ago.
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The two side altars were designed in 1897. They are 36 feet (11 meters) tall and 15 feet (4.6 meters) wide. They are made of butternut wood. One altar is dedicated to Mary and is called "The Coronation." The other is dedicated to Joseph and is called "The Holy Family."
Above the main altar is a special canopy called a baldacchino. It is made of carved Italian marble and rises 52 feet (16 meters) high. The wooden crucifix above the altar was made in 1873 for the original church. The fancy pulpit, where sermons are given, was made in 1906. It is also carved from butternut wood. It used to be in the main part of the church but was moved closer to the altar in the 1940s. The pulpit has carvings of important religious figures like the Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and Apostles (Peter and Paul). A new, free-standing altar was added in 1973.
Above the high altar is a large painting showing a heavenly scene from the Bible. To the right are images of prophets like John the Baptist and Moses. To the left are images of saints like the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Francis Xavier.
The Stations of the Cross are a series of images along the side walls. They show events from Jesus's last day. These plaster images were installed in 1959, replacing an older set from 1870.
The floor in the center aisle was installed in 1998. It is special because it combines different materials and computer-cut brass designs. The symbols in the floor include the coats of arms of the local archdiocese, Pope Pius XII, and the basilica itself.
In 1971, a new organ was installed in the church. It replaced the original pipe organ from 1913. This custom-made organ was designed for the basilica's size and sound qualities. In 2019, the organ was rebuilt and made even bigger. Its electrical system was also updated to be more reliable.
Because the basilica is considered the Pope's church if he were to visit the area, it has two special items. One is a bell called a tintinnabulum. The other is a special umbrella called an umbraculum.
Panoramas
- Panorama of St. Francis Xavier Basilica 12/2011
- Panorama of the altar - St. Francis Xavier Basilica 12/2011
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de San Francisco Javier (Dyersville) para niños
