Episcopal Church of the Saviour (Clermont, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of the Saviour Episcopal Church and David Henderson Statue
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Junction of Mill and Thompson, Clermont, Iowa |
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| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | John Massey Rhind |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001196 |
| Added to NRHP | October 30, 2000 |
The Episcopal Church of the Saviour is a special church in Clermont, Iowa. It's also known as Memorial Episcopal Church. This church, along with a statue of David Henderson, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This means it's an important historical place in the United States.
Contents
The Church of the Saviour: A Special Memorial
The church started as the Free Episcopal Mission Church in 1866. The building itself was finished ten years later. Bishop Henry Washington Lee officially dedicated it on December 16, 1870. This church is one of three Episcopal churches built to honor the two children of Frances Dyer Vinton. She lived in Providence, Rhode Island.
Why Three Churches?
The other two churches were built in Providence and in San Gabriel, California. Frances Vinton was inspired by a Bible verse that talked about praise ringing "from shore to shore." She wanted to build a church in the east, one in the west, and one in the middle of the country. All three churches were named "Church of the Saviour."
Clermont was chosen because Frances Vinton knew Dr. William Lewis. He was a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War. The Lewis family later gave their home to the church to be used as a rectory, which is a home for the church's leader. The church in Providence closed in 1950 and was later taken down. The church in San Gabriel has been changed a lot over the years.
Church Building Style
The church building was made from Iowa limestone. This stone came from the Williams Quarry, which is east of Clermont. We don't know who the architect was. However, the way the stone was put together shows it was built by a very skilled person.
The church mixes two styles: Romanesque and Italian Villa. These styles were popular in the mid-1800s and looked romantic and artistic. The church has a three-story tower and special eaves that stick out. It also has round-arched windows. In 1930, a slate roof was put on, replacing the old cedar shingles from 1903.
Inside, the church has a curved ceiling that looks like a barrel. It also has wooden panels on the lower part of the walls and shiny wooden pews (church benches). The altar and cross were given to the church by the Trinity Church Guild from Middletown, Connecticut. This gift honored Mrs. William Larrabee, Jr., whose father-in-law was former Iowa Governor William Larrabee.
David Henderson Statue: A Tribute to a Leader
David B. Henderson was a very important person in the United States government. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1882 to 1902. He represented the people of Iowa's 3rd congressional district. From 1899 to 1903, he held a very powerful job as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the first Speaker of the House from west of the Mississippi River.
Iowa Governor William Larrabee had this statue made to honor Congressman Henderson. He then gave it to the city of Clermont. The statue was designed by New York City sculptor John Massey Rhind. It was made of bronze by the Henry Bonnard Bronze Company in New York.
The bronze statue is about 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) tall. It stands on its original granite base. The statue was first placed in the middle of Mill Street. It was officially dedicated on June 19-20, 1903. This happened during a reunion of the 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which David Henderson had been a part of during the Civil War. In 1937, the statue was moved to the church yard. Even though it was moved, it is still a very important piece of art by a famous Scottish-American artist from the 1800s.
