Burns United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Burns United Methodist Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 811 Crocker St. Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | Wetherell & Gage |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000546 |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1977 |
The Burns United Methodist Church building is a historic place in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it is an important building that should be protected because of its history.
Contents
The Church's Story
How the Church Began
The church community started way back in 1866. It was first known as the Black Methodist Episcopal Church. Later, it was named after Francis Burns. He was the very first black bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
At first, the church members met in a school building. This school was only for black children. Over the years, the church moved six different times. They were looking for a permanent home.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1930, the church found its special building. They bought it from another church group. To raise money, the church members worked hard. They held dinners and even had a singing group. This group toured the state, performing to help buy the building.
In the 1940s, a fire damaged the building. But the church community worked together to fix it. They made sure it looked just like it did before the fire. The church stayed in this building for many years. In April 2011, they moved to a new location.
What the Church Building Looked Like
Building Design Details
The historic church building was built in 1912. It was designed by a company called Wetherell and Gage. They were architects from Des Moines.
The building has one main floor. It sits on top of a "raised basement." This means the basement is partly above ground. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is on the east side. On the west side, there were rooms for the pastor and classrooms.
The two parts of the building meet at a right angle. In this corner, there is a small entrance. It has a pointed roof, called a gable roof. Above the entrance, there is a low wall called a parapet.
Most of the windows on the main floor are shaped like Tudor arches. They have brick frames around them. But the sanctuary has a large, tall window. It is shaped like a Gothic arch. You can also see some special wood designs on the west side. This is called half-timberwork.
