St. James Episcopal Church (Oskaloosa, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. James Episcopal Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southwestern corner of the junction of 1st Ave. and S. 3rd St., Oskaloosa, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1901 |
| Built by | Henry Wetherell |
| Architect | Frank E. Wetherell |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Oskaloosa MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001762 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1991 |
St. James Episcopal Church is a special church in Oskaloosa, Iowa. It is part of the Diocese of Iowa. This historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This means it is an important building worth protecting.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
The church community, called a parish, started on May 27, 1855. It officially became a group in August 1857. They first bought land on South Market Street. This is where the Oskaloosa Public Library is today. But they traded that land for a corner lot. This new spot was at First Avenue East and South Third Street.
Building the First Church
In 1869, a church and a rectory were built on the new land. A rectory is a house where the church's priest lives. This first church cost $12,000 to build. It was made in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old European churches. The building was made of wood and measured about 28 feet by 50 feet. It was officially opened for worship on November 20, 1870.
A New Church Building
In 1896, the first church building was moved. It was placed at the back of the property. This made room for a brand new church. The current church was built in 1900.
Designing the New Church
Frank E. Wetherell, who was a member of the church, designed the new building. He designed it in the Late Gothic Revival style. This style is a newer version of the Gothic Revival look. The new church was built with bricks. It also had a tall bell tower. Henry Wetherell built it for $20,000. The new church was officially opened on February 2, 1902.
Connecting the Old and New
The old wooden church is still connected to the new brick church. It is attached to the south side. The old church was covered with bricks to match the new one. For many years, the church did not have an organ. In 1920, people raised $2,500 to buy one.
The Bell Tower and Its Bells
The church's tower is about 45 feet tall. It holds 10 bells inside. These bells were a gift from Alice Williams Bennett. She gave them to remember her parents, Micajah and Virginia Williams. In 1927, lightning badly damaged the tower. It had to be rebuilt after that.
Inside the Church
The inside of St. James Episcopal Church is very beautiful. It has many special features.
Wood Carvings and Stained Glass
You can see an altar, lectern, and pulpit made of carved oak wood. The altar is where the priest leads the service. A lectern is a stand for reading. A pulpit is a raised platform for preaching. There is also a rood screen and an altar rail. A rood screen is a decorative screen that separates parts of the church. An altar rail is a low barrier in front of the altar. Colorful stained glass windows are on the east and west walls. These windows tell stories with their pictures.
Changes and Updates Over Time
The original wooden church was updated in the 1950s. It was changed to have classrooms and office space. It also got a small chapel for children. In 1985, a pipe organ was bought and rebuilt in the church. This organ was first built in 1930 for a church in Bloomer, Wisconsin. It has 1,126 pipes!
In 1993, a new oak altar was built. This new altar allowed the priest to face the people during the service. It was officially opened on March 29, 1994. The original church building was remodeled again in 2001. This time, it became a new fellowship hall. This hall was air-conditioned. The rest of the church building also got air conditioning in 2004.
