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 building in Davenport, Iowa, USA. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This church belongs to the Presbyterian Church (USA) group.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
When the city of Davenport was founded in 1836, only about 10 to 12 people were Presbyterian. For the first few years, they met with other Protestant groups. In April 1838, they decided to form their own church. They first gathered in a small building on Ripley Street.
The group officially became a church on May 5, 1839. This happened in a small schoolhouse at Fourth and Harrison Streets. Several visiting ministers helped organize the church. In 1842, J.M.D. Burrows and T.S. Hoge became the first elders of the church.
Building the First Churches
From 1843, Reverend Samuel Cleland led the Davenport church for four years. Even though the church was still small, they built their first church building in Davenport. By 1846, there were only 17 members.
The church grew slowly, reaching about 30 members by 1849. That year, Reverend J.D. Mason became the pastor, bringing more stability. By 1857, the church had grown to 200 members.
In 1853, the congregation built a new church on Third Street. They sold this building in 1864. Then, they bought the former St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Brady Street. This building served them for over 30 years.
The Current Church Building
The church decided to build a new church closer to the city center. Construction began on March 18, 1898, at Kirkwood Boulevard and Iowa Street. The cornerstone was placed on July 20, 1898. The new church was officially opened on December 17, 1899. The old church building later became the Academy of Sciences, which was a start for the Putnam Museum.
About the Current Church Building
The current church was designed by Gottschalk & Beadle, architects from Galesburg, Illinois. They also designed a similar church in Galesburg. The building is made of brownstone, a type of sandstone.
The church's style is Romanesque, which is known for its round arches and strong, thick walls. It also has a tower in the Richardsonian style, named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson. You can see carved oak leaves and other designs on the gables, which are the triangular parts of the wall under the roof.
Inside, the church has an octagonal (eight-sided) shape. The ceiling features designs of a Maltese cross and a Greek cross. The beautiful stained glass windows were made by J&R Lamb Studios in New York City.
The church continued to grow over the years. By 1935, it had about 1,300 members, making it one of the largest churches in Davenport.
The Pipe Organ
The First Presbyterian Church has a large Casavant Frères pipe organ. It was built in 1999. The organ is located at the front of the church, and some of its pipes can be seen.
This organ has a traditional console, which is the part where the organist sits and plays. It has four keyboards, called manuals, and a pedalboard played with the feet. The organ uses electricity to make the keys and stops work. Stops are controls that change the sound of the organ.
The organ has many different sounds and features. It includes a crescendo pedal, which gradually increases the volume. It also has special buttons and foot pedals to quickly change the organ's sound.
Other Presbyterian Churches in Davenport
Over time, other Presbyterian churches were started in Davenport. For example, the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian church began in 1856. It changed its name several times before becoming St. Andrew's in 1960. This church closed in 2008.
Another church, Newcomb, was started in 1869. It was a mission of First Presbyterian for many years. Renwick Chapel was established in 1876 and also had several names before it no longer existed.
More recently, West Park Presbyterian and Ridgeview Park Presbyterian were founded in the mid-1900s. These two churches joined together in 2008 to form a new church called New Hope.
