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 in New Prague, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1907. Next to the church are a rectory, which is a house for the priest, built in 1908, and a school built in 1914. These three buildings together are a special historical site. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is because they show the history of Czech American families who settled in south-central Minnesota.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Settlers and Community Growth
The first people who settled in New Prague were immigrants. They had first lived near Dubuque, Iowa. Many of them got sick there. So, four men from their group traveled up the Mississippi River. They were looking for a healthier place to live.
They met with other Catholics in Saint Paul. These people told them that Benedictines from Saint John's Abbey could help them find land. The Czech explorers got lost on their journey. They ended up following the Minnesota River to Shakopee.
There, they found lots of good land to the south. The four men bought land and brought their families from Iowa. This is how the community of New Prague began.
Building the Church
The St. Wenceslaus church community started in 1856. A small church made of logs was built the next year. Sadly, this log church burned down in 1864. So, a stronger church was built in 1866. It was made of brick and stone.
As more people joined the church, a bigger building was needed. Father Francis Tichy led the effort to build the new church. The design was created by Hermann Kretz, an architect from Saint Paul. The church was planned to cost $53,000. However, the final cost was $85,000.
Because of the higher costs, Father Tichy left the church in 1906. Father Jaroslav Cermak then took over. He 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. It was built using brick and Kasota limestone. It stands out in the small city of New Prague. The church is about 165 feet long and 67 feet wide. It has two tall towers that reach 110 feet high.
The church's design mixes two styles: neoclassical and Romanesque. Its look is based on 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. A statue of King Wenceslaus is placed above the main entrance. Inside the church, there is a large pipe organ. It was used for music until the 2000s.
Historical Recognition
The church, the rectory, and the school were all listed together. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This was because of their importance to the local area. They show the history of education, settlement, and religion. These three buildings are important because they are linked to the Czech American people who settled in south-central Minnesota.
The St. Wenceslaus Community Today
As of 2009, the St. Wenceslaus church community had about 1,440 families. This made it the largest church community in the area. In 2010, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis made a plan. It suggested that five smaller churches in the area should join with St. Wenceslaus.
After some changes to the plan, St. Wenceslaus became the main church for several other communities. These included the former churches of St. Benedict in New Prague, St. Joseph in Lexington, St. John the Evangelist in Union Hill, and St. Scholastica in Heidelberg. The St. Benedict and St. Joseph churches were closed. However, the St. John the Evangelist and St. Scholastica churches are still used for worship. They are now part of the larger St. Wenceslaus community.
St. Wenceslaus also runs an elementary school. Children from pre-kindergarten up to 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
