St. George's Episcopal Church (Le Mars, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. George’s Episcopal Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 400 1st Ave., SE. Le Mars, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1881 |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000797 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1976 |
St. George's Episcopal Church is a very old church building in Le Mars, Iowa. It was built in 1881 and has a special design called Carpenter Gothic. This church is important because it's one of the few things left from when many English people lived in Le Mars long ago. In 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building worth protecting.
Contents
The Church's Early Story
In 1879, two brothers from England, Fred and William Close, opened an office in Le Mars. They wanted to help English people move to the area and start farms. Many young men from England came to Le Mars to learn about farming. Over time, more than 1,000 English people settled here. Some were from wealthy families and went back home after learning to farm.
These English settlers needed a place to worship. So, they started a church group called Grace Mission. Their first church building was at Fifth and Hubbard Streets. Later, they moved to a place called Apollo Hall.
Becoming St. George's Church
The church group officially became St. George's Church on October 4, 1881. The church building you see today was finished in the same year. It cost about $3,200 to build, and the money came all the way from England. The church was officially opened and blessed on June 9, 1882.
The first two rectors, or head priests, of the church were very educated. One went to Cambridge University, and the next one went to Oxford University. By the 1890s, most of the English settlers had left Le Mars. So, the church members were mostly people who were not from England. St. George's Church is one of the few buildings that reminds us of the city's English past.
In 1963, a parish hall was added next to the church. This hall was home to St. George's Preschool. Today, St. George's is still an active church in the Diocese of Iowa.
Church Building Design
St. George's Church sits on a strong limestone foundation. The outside walls have a special design. They use horizontal clapboard siding with a unique board and batten border just below it.
Windows and Entrance
The church has tall, pointed windows called Gothic arched windows. They have narrow covers above them. These windows have different designs of colored glass, which makes them look beautiful. The windows on the south side even have special cut glass. The pointed arch above each window is made of pressed glass.
At the front of the church, there is an entrance tower. This tower used to have a small, pointed roof called a spire. But the spire was removed around the year 1900. The main roof of the church was then extended to cover the tower instead.
Inside the Church
The wooden steps outside the church have railings that were rebuilt in the early 1990s. They were made to look just like the original railings. Inside the church, the long wooden benches, called pews, are the original ones from when the church was built. The altar, where the priest stands, looks very much like the first one. The pulpit, where sermons are given, has been there since 1892.
