Church of the Holy Communion (St. Peter, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of the Holy Communion
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Church of the Holy Communion from the east
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 116 N. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architect | Henry Martyn Congdon |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000914 |
| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1983 |
The Church of the Holy Communion is an old stone church in St. Peter, Minnesota. It's an Episcopal church, which is a type of Christian church. A famous architect named Henry Martyn Congdon designed it. He was from New York City. The church was built in 1869 using a special stone called Kasota limestone. It's built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old European churches.
The church has strong supports called buttresses on the outside. It also has a steeply sloped roof. Small windows, shaped like eyes, are on each side of the roof. On May 19, 1983, this building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
History of the Church
The very first Episcopal church service in St. Peter happened on October 27, 1854. It was held at the home of Captain William Bigelow Dodd. He was the person who founded St. Peter. His wife, Harriet, helped invite Bishop Jackson Kemper to lead the service. Thirty-seven people attended this first gathering.
Soon after, a church group was officially started. Their first church building was made of wood. It was built in 1855, close to where the stone church stands today. The first leader of the church was Rev. Ezra Jones. Rev. Edward Livermore took over as leader when the current stone church was built. The bell from the first wooden church was moved to the tower of the new stone church. This bell has rung every time an American president has passed away since Abraham Lincoln. Captain Dodd, his wife Harriet, and two of their children are buried in a grave behind the church.
The Church Today
The Church of the Holy Communion is still an active church. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. The church's leader was Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Harries. He retired from his role at the end of April 2022.
