St. Irenaeus Catholic Church (Clinton, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Irenaeus Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2811 N. 2nd St. Clinton, Iowa |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | W.W. Sanborn W.W. Waldron |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001589 |
| Added to NRHP | September 3, 2010 |
Saint Irenaeus Church is an old church building in Clinton, Iowa, USA. It used to be a Catholic church. It was built in a town called Lyons, which is now part of northern Clinton. This church is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. This means it's an important historical place.
Contents
History of Saint Irenaeus Church
Building the First Churches (1800s)
The very first Catholic Mass in Lyons happened in a log home in 1848. A Mass is a special church service. Bishop Mathias Loras led this first service. Different priests visited the area after that.
Then, a priest named Frederic Cyrille Jean came from France. He was the first full-time pastor for the church. He started building the first church right away. This brick church was finished in 1852.
The church community grew quickly. So, a bigger church was built in 1856. In 1864, work began on the church building you see today. People from the church helped build it for free.
This church is built in a style called Gothic Revival. It uses limestone from nearby quarries. The building was finished in 1871. It was very large for its time. It could hold 450 people. The ceiling is 50 feet (about 15 meters) high.
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. They show the Twelve Apostles, who were Jesus's main followers. The front of the church has two tall spires. The south spire is 166 feet (about 50 meters) high. The north spire is 136 feet (about 41 meters) high.
Before the church was finished, Father Jean went back to France. While there, he received a special gift. It was a fancy golden chandelier. It looked like the crown of France. The Bonaparte family gave it to the church. It was used as a sanctuary lamp, which is a light that stays on near the altar.
A school for the church was also built around the same time. It cost $4,000 to build. Nuns from the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary taught at the school.
In 1861, some German members started their own church nearby. It was called St. Boniface. This made Saint Irenaeus Church mostly Irish. Other Catholic churches were also built in Clinton later on.
Changes in the 1900s
In 1906, the church building was completely changed around. The main entrance used to face Fifth Street. But North Second Street became a very busy road. So, the church's main door was moved to the west side, facing Second Street. The altar was moved to the east side. The church pews were turned around to face the new altar. This change also made it easier to get in, as it removed long staircases. A new area called a gallery was made on the west side.
In 1911, all five Catholic churches in Clinton joined the Davenport Diocese. This happened when Clinton County became part of that Diocese.
The inside of the church got a big makeover in the 1940s. The walls were made to look like stone, just like the outside. New Gothic-style lights were hung. New Stations of the Cross were put on the side walls. The ceiling was decorated with fake beams.
In the 1960s and 1970s, more rooms were added. A church hall, kitchen, meeting rooms, and restrooms were built in the basement.
The church school joined with the St. Boniface school in the 1970s. They formed North Catholic School. Later, all the Catholic elementary schools in Clinton combined. They became Prince of Peace School.
The Saint Irenaeus church itself officially closed in 2006. This happened when the five churches in Clinton joined together. They formed a new church called Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish.
Saint Irenaeus Today (2000s)
The new Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish used the old churches until 2008. Then, a brand new church was built for them on the west side of town. The special sanctuary lamp and some old Stations of the Cross from Saint Irenaeus were moved to the new church.
Some other old churches in Clinton were taken down. St. Patrick's Church was removed in 2005. St. Mary's followed in 2009. Sacred Heart Church is now part of the Prince of Peace School. It is used for their church services.
A group is working to save St. Boniface Church. They want to turn it into a museum about religious history.
The last Mass at Saint Irenaeus Church was on June 28, 2009. The church was sold in June 2010. The Clinton County Historical Society bought it. They are fixing it up to become a community cultural center. It will host public events for everyone to enjoy.
