Saint Patrick's Church (Dubuque, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Patrick's Catholic Church
and Rectory |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 110 W. 15th St., 1425 Iowa St., Dubuque, Iowa |
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| Built | 1877-1878 (church) 1880s (rectory) |
| Architect | John Keenan (church) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (church) Second Empire (rectory) |
| Part of | Jackson Park Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002102 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 1986 |
Saint Patrick's Church is a Catholic church in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. It is located at 15th and Iowa Streets. The church and its rectory (the house where the priest lives) are important parts of the Jackson Park Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. St. Patrick's Church is very close to St. Mary's Church. This is because St. Mary's was built for German families in Dubuque. St. Patrick's was built to serve the Irish settlers who came to Dubuque.
History of St. Patrick's Church
The St. Patrick's parish began in 1852. It started as a mission of St. Raphael Cathedral. The land for the church buildings was bought by Bishop Mathias Loras. He bought it from the United States government.
At first, a wooden building was used as the church. It was located where the rectory stands today. Bishop Loras dedicated this first church in 1853. St. Patrick's became its own independent parish five years later. This happened when Rev. Patrick McCabe became its first full-time pastor.
The first stone for the current brick church was laid in 1877. The building was officially opened on August 15, 1878. In 1928, Rev. J.J. Hanley updated and made the church bigger.
St. Patrick's Church was originally built for Irish settlers in Dubuque. The church still respects its Irish background. However, today it mainly serves the Hispanic people living in Dubuque. The church offers a Mass in Spanish on Sundays. The offices for Hispanic ministry are also located at the parish.
From 1995 to 2008, a special administrator led the St. Patrick's church. During that time, from 1999 to 2010, St. Patrick's and St. Mary's parishes worked together. St. Mary's closed in May 2010. After that, St. Patrick's began working with St. Raphael's Cathedral.
Church Architecture and Design
St. Patrick's Church was designed by John Keenan, an architect from Dubuque. It is built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like older European churches. The church is made of brick and sits on a foundation of Dubuque stone.
It has a tall tower in the middle with a crown on top. The main entrance has been changed over the years. However, it still fits well with the older parts of the building. The church building is long, with seven sections. The seventh section on the south side looks a bit like a transept (a part of a church that crosses the main part). Brick buttresses (supports) divide these sections. Each section has two tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. Inside, the church is divided into three main areas called naves.
The rectory was built in the 1880s behind the church. It is a three-story brick house. It has a special roof called a mansard roof. The original front porch has been replaced with a new, single-story part. Other additions have also been built on the west side of the house.
There used to be a school building next to the church. It is no longer there. A new three-story school was built in 1951. It was located at the corner of West 15th and Main Streets. The church sold this building in 2006. It is not considered a historic building.
Parish Schools
St. Patrick's Parish had a school for boys that started after 1870. Girls from the parish went to St. Joseph Academy. In 1982, St. Patrick's School joined with St. Mary's Catholic School. Together, they formed Downtown Catholic School.
In 2001, an organization called Holy Family Catholic Schools took over Downtown Catholic and other Catholic schools in the Dubuque area. In 2002, Downtown Catholic and Sacred Heart – Holy Trinity School became St. Francis School. St. Francis School closed in 2004. Four Oaks Family and Children Services bought the school building in 2006.
