First Presbyterian Church (Davenport, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Presbyterian Church
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First Presbyterian in 2014
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1702 Iowa St. Davenport, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architect | Gottschalk & Beadle |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002431 |
| Added to NRHP | July 7, 1983 |
The First Presbyterian Church is a historic church located in Davenport, Iowa, in the United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 because of its important history and beautiful design. This church is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) group.
Contents
History of the Church
How it Started
When the city of Davenport was formed in 1836, there were only about 10 to 12 people who were Presbyterian. For the first couple of years, they worshipped with other Protestant groups. In April 1838, they decided to form their own church. They met in a small building on Ripley Street.
The group officially became a church on May 5, 1839. This happened in a small school house at Fourth and Harrison Streets. Ministers from nearby towns, like Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury and Rev. M. Hummer, helped them get started. In 1842, J.M.D. Burrows and T.S. Hoge were chosen as church elders, who are leaders in the church.
Growing the Congregation
From 1843, Rev. Samuel Cleland led both the Davenport and Stephenson (now Rock Island, Illinois) churches for four years. Even though the Davenport church was still very small, they built their first church building during this time. By 1846, there were only 17 members.
The church became more stable in November 1849 when Rev. J.D. Mason became the pastor. At this point, the church had about 30 members. By 1857, the congregation had grown a lot, reaching 200 members!
New Buildings Over Time
In 1853, the church built another building on Third Street. Later, in 1864, they sold that property. They then bought the former St. Luke's Episcopal Church building on Brady Street. This building served the church for over 30 years.
Eventually, the church decided to build a new, larger church closer to the center of the community. Work began on the new church at Kirkwood Boulevard and Iowa Street on March 18, 1898. The first stone of the new church was laid on July 20, 1898. The beautiful new church was officially opened on December 17, 1899. The old church building later became the Academy of Sciences, which was an early version of the Putnam Museum.
The Current Church Building
The church building you see today was designed by the architectural firm Gottschalk & Beadle from Galesburg, Illinois. They also designed a very similar church in Galesburg. The building is made of a type of brownstone.
Its style is Romanesque, which is known for its strong, rounded arches and thick walls, with a tower in the Richardsonian style. You can see carved oak leaves and other plants on the gables (the triangular parts of the roof). Inside, the main area is shaped like an octagon. The amazing stained glass windows were made by J&R Lamb Studios in New York City.
By 1935, the church continued to grow and had about 1,300 members. This made it one of the biggest churches in the city.
The Pipe Organ
The church has a large and impressive pipe organ, built by Casavant Frères Ltée in 1999. It is located at the front of the church, and you can see some of its pipes.
This organ has a traditional console, which is where the organist sits to play. It has four keyboards (called manuals) and a pedalboard for playing notes with your feet. It uses electricity to make the keys and stops work. The organ is a very complex musical instrument that can make many different sounds, from soft and gentle to loud and powerful.
Other Presbyterian Churches in Davenport
Over the years, other Presbyterian churches were started in Davenport. For example, the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian church began in 1856. Its name changed several times before it closed in 2008.
Another church, Newcomb, was started by the YMCA in 1869. It was a mission of First Presbyterian for many years. Renwick Chapel, which also had different names like Second Presbyterian, was established in 1876 but no longer exists. More recently, West Park Presbyterian and Ridgeview Park Presbyterian merged in 2008 to form a new church called New Hope.
