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 located in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. It stands at 15th and Iowa Streets. The church and its nearby house, called the rectory, 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 many Irish families who settled in Dubuque.
The Story of St. Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's Church started in 1852. It was first a small mission connected to St. Raphael Cathedral. The land for the church was bought by Bishop Mathias Loras from the government.
The very first church building was made of wood. It stood where the rectory is now. Bishop Loras officially opened this first church in 1853. Five years later, St. Patrick's became its own parish. This meant it had its own priest, Rev. Patrick McCabe.
The first stone for the current brick church was laid in 1877. The church building was finished and opened on August 15, 1878. Later, in 1928, the church was made bigger and updated by Rev. J.J. Hanley.
St. Patrick's Church was first built for Irish settlers in Dubuque. For many years, it honored its Irish roots. Today, the church mainly serves the Hispanic people living in Dubuque. It offers a Mass in Spanish every Sunday. The church also has offices for Hispanic ministry. From 1999 to 2010, St. Patrick's worked closely with St. Mary's Parish. When St. Mary's closed in 2010, St. Patrick's began working with St. Raphael's Cathedral.
Church Design and Architecture
The church was designed by John Keenan, an architect from Dubuque. He used the Gothic Revival style. This style often features tall, pointed arches and grand designs. The church is made of brick and sits on a strong stone foundation.
It has a tall tower in the middle with a crown on top. The main entrance has been changed over time. However, it still fits well with the old look of the church. The church building has seven sections, called bays. The seventh bay on the south side is like a small wing, known as a transept. Brick supports, called buttresses, divide each bay. Each bay has two tall, narrow windows, known as lancet windows. Inside, the church is divided into three main areas, called naves.
The rectory, the priest's house, was built in the 1880s. It is behind the church. It is a three-story brick house with a special sloped roof called a mansard roof. The original front porch has been replaced. Other parts have also been added to the west side of the house.
There used to be a school building right next to the church. It was replaced in 1951 by a new three-story building. This new building was sold by the parish in 2006. It is not considered an old or historic structure.
Schools Connected to the Church
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 Dubuque. Downtown Catholic and another school became St. Francis School in 2002. However, St. Francis School closed in 2004. In 2006, a group called Four Oaks Family and Children Services bought the school building.
