St. Barnabas Episcopal Church (Montrose, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chestnut St. Montrose, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1869-1871, c. 1902 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000721 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1986 |
The St. Barnabas Episcopal Church is an old church building in Montrose, Iowa, United States. It used to be part of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Today, it is known as the St. Barnabas Wedding Chapel.
Contents
The Church's Story
The church started as Grace Church. At first, the people met in the local Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1867, land was bought for a new church building. People raised money to help build it.
Building the Church
Construction began in 1869. The main part of the church was finished in 1871. Local builders used blue-gray limestone from a quarry about 1 mile (1.6 km) away. Matthew Richardson, J.S. Lakin, and J.N. Ballou completed the inside of the church. They also added the furniture.
In 1881, the church's name changed to St. Barnabas. The women of the church helped raise money for a bell tower and a narthex. A narthex is an entrance area at the front of a church. These parts were built around 1902. A bell was given to the church from a parish in St. Louis. It hung on a wooden frame at the Methodist Church until the new tower was ready. St. Barnabas was never a full parish. It was a smaller "mission" church. Other churches in Fort Madison or Keokuk helped serve it.
After the Church Closed
The church was used until it closed in 1960. In 1974, there was a plan to move the town library into the old church. The church was no longer used for religious services. Some of its items were given to other active churches. The building was also damaged by vandals. For a while, horses even grazed in the churchyard.
The old church sat empty until 1981. That year, the Montrose Township Historical Society was formed. They started to fix up the building. Now, besides being a wedding chapel, the building hosts special events. These include annual Memorial Day and Christmas programs.
Church Design and Look
The church building is shaped like a rectangle. It measures about 41 feet (12 m) long and 33 feet (10 m) wide. At the back, there is a small chancel and a vestry-room. The chancel is the area around the altar. The vestry-room is where clergy prepare.
The Bell Tower
The bell tower makes the building look like Norman Gothic style. It rises to a height of 35 feet (11 m). The main part of the church uses rough, uneven blue-gray limestone. The limestone on the tower is lighter in color. It is cut into square, uneven blocks.
Windows and Walls
The sides of the church have three sections, called bays. Each bay has a tall, narrow window called a lancet window. The bays are separated by stepped pillars, called pilasters. These pillars are also on the corners of the building. Three lancet windows are grouped together on the back wall of the chancel. Inside the church, only a few original items remain. These include the old pews, two special memorial windows, and the church bell.
