Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cottage Grove Avenue
Presbyterian Church |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1050 24th St. Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1903, 1918 |
| Built by | B. F. Segner |
| Architect | Clinton P. Shockley |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000607 |
| Added to NRHP | April 12, 1984 |
Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church is an old and important building in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means it's a special place recognized for its history.
The Church's Story
The church community started in 1888. It was first called Sixth Presbyterian Church. Later, in 1910, it changed its name to Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian.
At first, the church members met in tents. They also met in a business building nearby. In 1893, a brick church was finished on this land. It was built in the Gothic Revival style. Sadly, just two years later, lightning caused a fire. The church building was destroyed.
Building a New Church
A new brick church was built in 1903 at the same spot. About ten years later, people found problems with the building's structure. The church kept its Sunday School part. But they replaced the main worship area in 1918.
An architect named Clinton P. Shockley designed the new worship area. He was from Waterloo, Iowa. He designed it in the Neoclassical style. This style uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. A builder from Des Moines, B. F. Segner, constructed it.
The building has a unique shape, like a trapezoid. This shape matches the land it sits on. It has a flat roof and is covered with Bedford stone. This stone makes the outside look grand. The south and east sides have five sections. These sections are separated by four pilasters. Pilasters are like flat columns built into the wall.
On the southeast side, there is a curved area. Also on this side, a special saying is carved into the stone. It says, "Ye Shall Know the Truth and the Truth Shall Make You Free." This message is about finding truth and freedom. The Sunday School part of the building also got a stone covering on its south side. Its other sides still have the original painted brick.
Helping the Community
Around the time the new church was built, the community started focusing on social help. They wanted to serve their neighborhood. Changing the church's name showed they cared about the area. The new church building looks more like a home than a traditional church. This also showed their focus on community.
The saying carved into the stone emphasizes good behavior. It is not about specific church beliefs. During the time of pastors William Burton Sanford and James Thompson Mordy, the church helped with many issues. They worked on rules for homes in the area. They also supported the Negro Community Center and youth programs.
In the 1960s and 1970s, a big highway was built. This highway, Interstate 235, cut through the neighborhood. The church became an "inner-city" church. This gave them more chances to help people in the city.
Changes Over Time
Over time, the church's membership started to decrease. In 2014, the church decided to close its regular services. The Presbytery of Des Moines now owns the building. A "presbytery" is a group of churches in a certain area.
They still use the building for their offices. They also use it for a special program that helps people who are homeless. Two church groups from Sudan also meet there. Their members came to the USA after difficult times in Sudan and South Sudan.
