First Baptist Church (Davenport, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Calvary Baptist Church/
First Baptist Church |
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First Baptist Church from the southwest in 2010
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1401 Perry St. Davenport, Iowa |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | John S. Woolacott |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002409 |
| Added to NRHP | July 7, 1983 |
The First Baptist Church in Davenport, Iowa, is a historic building that has been an important part of the city for a long time. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history. The church is part of the American Baptist Churches USA group.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
Starting the First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church began in 1839. Its very first service was held in the home of John M. Eldridge on Brady Street. The Rev. Israel Fisher was the church's first pastor, or leader.
The first members included John M. Eldridge and his wife Mary, John Swartout, Charles Swartout, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Price, along with Mr. and Mrs. David Wilson. Richard Price and David Wilson were the first deacons, who helped lead the church.
Moving to New Locations
Over the years, the Baptists in Davenport met in several different places. They first used a room above a store on Front Street, which is now called River Drive. Later, they built a brick church at Fourth and Brady Streets. This land was kindly given to them by Antoine LeClaire.
After some time, they moved to a new building at Sixth and Main Streets. They sold their old church on Brady Street to St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
The Second Baptist Church Forms
In October 1851, a group of sixteen people decided to start a new church. They had been part of the First Baptist Church. They met in a schoolhouse on Perry Street to create the Second Baptist Church.
The first leaders of this new church included Dr. J. M. Witherwax and C. G. Blood. The Second Baptist group bought a house at Fourth and Perry Streets for their services. They later moved to Third and Brady Streets.
Joining Together and Building New
In 1852, the Rev. E.M. Mills became the pastor of the Second Baptist Church. During his time, they built a new church building at Fourth and Perry Streets. This new building caused the Second Baptist Church to have a lot of debt.
Soon after, the First and Second Baptist Churches decided to join together. In 1864, the Rev. D.S. Watson became the pastor. Under his leadership, the church's debt was paid off. The combined church was then renamed Calvary Regular Baptist Church.
On May 6, 1886, the church decided to build a brand new building. This decision was made when Rev. Frank L. Wilkins was the pastor. The new church would be located at Perry and Fourteenth Streets.
The New Church Building
The land for the new church cost $3,400. A talented architect from Chicago, John S. Woolacott, designed the building. John Whittaker was the builder. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on September 21, 1889.
The new church was officially opened on Sunday, May 25, 1890. The total cost for the building and everything inside was $33,000. This price even included a beautiful pipe organ, which cost $3,100. In 1968, the church decided to change its name back to First Baptist Church.
Exploring the Church's Architecture
The First Baptist Church shows a special building style from the late 1800s. It's called Richardsonian Romanesque, inspired by architect Henry Hobson Richardson. This style mixes colorful surfaces with a unique roof design that looks like shingles.
The main part of the church, where services are held, is almost square. It has a very tall, sloped roof called a hipped roof. You can also see hidden windows, called blind dormers, and small towers at the corners. The church is built from red brick and rough stone.
It features wide, round-arched windows, which are a key part of the Romanesque style. There are also smaller rectangular windows, often grouped in twos or threes. Beautiful stained glass fills all the window openings. The corner tower originally had a tall, pointed top called a spire. However, it was removed in the 1950s after a storm damaged it. A section with classrooms is connected to the main church building.
