Church of St. Wenceslaus (New Prague, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of St. Wenceslaus--Catholic
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The Church of St. Wenceslaus from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 215 Main Street E., New Prague, Minnesota |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1907 (church), 1908 (rectory), 1914 (school) |
| Built by | A. Kropf |
| Architect | Hermann Kretz |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival, Romanesque Revival |
| Website | npcatholic.org/st-wenceslaus |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003035 |
| Designated NRHP | February 19, 1982 |
The Church of St. Wenceslaus is a Catholic church located in New Prague, Minnesota. It was built in 1907. This church is part of a group of three important buildings. Next to it are a building for the priest (called a rectory) from 1908 and a school from 1914.
These three buildings are special because they are connected to the history of Czech American families who settled in this part of Minnesota. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means they are important historical sites.
Contents
A New Home: Settling New Prague
The first people who settled New Prague were immigrants from the Czech Republic. They first lived near Dubuque, Iowa. However, many of them became very sick there.
Four men from their group decided to travel north. They went up the Mississippi River to Saint Paul. They were looking for a healthier place to live. In Saint Paul, they met other Catholics. These people told them that Benedictines (a type of monk) from Saint John's Abbey could help them find land.
The explorers got a bit lost on their journey. They ended up following the Minnesota River to Shakopee. There, they found lots of good land to the south. So, the four men bought land and brought their families from Iowa to this new area.
Building the Church
The St. Wenceslaus church community started in 1856. A simple church made of logs was built the next year. Sadly, this log church burned down in 1864.
A stronger church was built in 1866. It was made of brick and stone. As more people joined the community, they needed an even bigger church. Father Francis Tichy led the effort to build the new, larger church.
The famous architect Hermann Kretz from St. Paul designed the building. It was first planned to cost about $53,000. But the final cost ended up being $85,000. Because of the higher cost, Father Tichy left the church in 1906. Father Jaroslav Cermak then took over and made sure the building was finished.
Archbishop John Ireland officially opened the new church on July 7, 1907.
Church Design and Features
The church is a very large building made of brick and Kasota limestone. It stands out in the small city of New Prague. The church is about 165 by 67 feet (50 by 20 m) in size. It has two tall towers that reach 110 feet (34 m) high.
The church's design mixes two styles: neoclassical and Romanesque. Its look was inspired by a church in Prague, Czech Republic.
The church is named after Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia. He was born near Prague around the year 907 CE. You can see a statue of King Wenceslaus above the main entrance. Inside, there was a large pipe organ that worked until the 2000s.
A Historic Landmark
The church, rectory, and school were all listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This shows their importance to the local area. They are recognized for their role in education, settlement, and religion. These three buildings are a key part of the story of Czech American families settling in south-central Minnesota.
A Growing Community
By 2009, the St. Wenceslaus church community had about 1,440 families. This made it the largest church in the area. In 2010, a plan was made to combine several smaller churches into St. Wenceslaus.
After some changes, St. Wenceslaus became the main church for several other communities. These included St. Benedict in New Prague, St. Joseph in Lexington, St. John the Evangelist in Union Hill, and St. Scholastica in Heidelberg. Some of these churches, like St. Benedict and St. Joseph, were closed. But St. John the Evangelist and St. Scholastica are still used for worship as part of the larger St. Wenceslaus community.
The St. Wenceslaus church also runs an elementary school. Children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend this school.
See also
- List of Catholic churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Scott County, Minnesota
