First Presbyterian Church (Muscatine, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Presbyterian Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 401 Iowa Ave. Muscatine, Iowa |
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| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000544 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 1977 |
The First Presbyterian Church in Muscatine, Iowa, is a special church with a long history. It's part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) group. The church building and its Sunday School building are so important that they were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means they are recognized as historic places in the United States.
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History of the First Presbyterian Church
The church community, called a congregation, first started way back in 1839. It was the very first group of Presbyterian churches (a 'presbytery') to be set up in Iowa. On February 2, 1842, Reverend John Stocker became the church's first pastor. The church officially began with eleven founding members.
At first, the church didn't have its own building. They held their services in different places. These included a building called the People's Church, a shared meeting house, and even a log school house.
In 1849, the congregation built its very first church building. This happened when Reverend John Hudson was the pastor. The building was about 35 by 40 feet (11 by 12 meters). It was located on Mulberry Street. In 1852, the first Iowa Synod (a larger church meeting) for the Presbyterian Church was held here. By 1856, the church community had grown too big for this building. So, they started planning for a new one.
The church building you see today was built at the corner of Iowa Avenue and Fourth Street. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks a bit like old European castles and cathedrals. The new church was officially opened in 1859. A special speech was given by Reverend W.S. Plummer from a seminary in Pennsylvania.
A new classroom wing was added to the church in 1915. This gave more space for Sunday School classes. In 1976, the building was recognized as an American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site. The next year, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, was updated in 2004-2005. This renovation made the entrance area, called the narthex, much larger.
What the Church Looks Like
The church building is a rectangular shape. It sits on a raised basement. It follows a basilica plan, which is a common layout for churches. The outside is made of red brick. Its early Gothic Revival style has some features from Tudor Revival buildings.
The building is five sections long. These sections are separated by strong supports called buttresses. These supports have white stone tops. The church is also three sections wide. The roof is gently sloped and has a narrow wooden edge.
The main front of the church has a tall, three-part tower in the middle. The main entrance is at the bottom of this tower. The top part of the tower holds the church bells (the belfry). The very top of the tower has a crenelated parapet. This means it has a top edge with gaps, like the top of a castle wall.
The main door is set back deep inside a rounded arch. Above the door, there's a special window with decorative stone patterns. At each corner of the front of the church, there are tall, pointed decorations called pinnacles.
The Sunday School Building
The Sunday School building is located to the north of the church. It has a Neoclassical design. This style often uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. However, it also has Gothic Revival details that match the main church.
This building has two stories and a raised basement. It has a hip roof, which slopes down on all four sides. The front of the building has a three-section gabled area. Most windows are rectangular. But the windows on the second floor in the middle section have rounded arches, like those on the church. The Sunday School building also has white trim around its windows. It uses white stone for the bottom part of its walls, matching the church.
Connecting the Buildings
The church and the Sunday School building are connected by an entrance area. The stone trim and the shape of its gable (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof) look like the Sunday School building. The wide, rounded arch and decorative panel at this entrance match the main church's entry. Together, the church, the Sunday School building, and this connecting entrance form a U-shaped group of buildings.
Images for kids
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Classroom wing
