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 a beautiful old stone church in St. Peter, Minnesota. It belongs to the Episcopal faith, which is a type of Christian church. This special building was designed by a famous architect named Henry Martyn Congdon from New York City.
It was built in 1869 using strong Kasota limestone. The church has a cool design called Gothic Revival. This style looks a bit like old castles or grand cathedrals. You can see its strong buttresses (supports on the outside walls) and a steep, pointed roof called a gabled roof. It even has small, gabled windows on the roof slopes. Because of its history and unique look, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 1983. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
Church History
The very first Episcopal church service in St. Peter happened a long time ago. It was on October 27, 1854, at the home of Captain William Bigelow Dodd and his wife Harriet. Captain Dodd was actually the person who founded the town of St. Peter!
A special church leader, Bishop Jackson Kemper, led that first service. About 37 people attended. Mrs. Dodd played a big part in inviting Bishop Kemper to visit. Soon after, the church community, called a parish, was officially started.
The first church building was made of wood. It was built in 1855, very close to where the stone church stands today. The first main priest, or rector, of the church was Rev. Ezra Jones. Later, Rev. Edward Livermore became the rector. He was in charge when the current stone church was built.
A special bell from the first wooden church was moved to the tower of the new stone church. This bell has a unique history. It has rung every time an American president has passed away, starting with Abraham Lincoln. Behind the church, you can find the graves of Captain Dodd, his wife Harriet, and two of their children.
The Church Today
The Church of the Holy Communion is still an active church today. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, which is a larger group of Episcopal churches in the area. The current rector is the Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Harries. He will be retiring at the end of April 2022.
