St. John's Episcopal Church (Dubuque, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John's Episcopal Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The church in 2021
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1410 Main Street Dubuque, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1875-1878 |
| Architect | Henry M. Congdon |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Jackson Park Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002102 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 1986 |
St. John's Episcopal Church is a beautiful old church in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. It belongs to the Diocese of Iowa, which is a group of Episcopal churches in the state. This church is an important part of the Jackson Park Historic District. This district is a special area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized for its historical importance.
How St. John's Church Began
The story of St. John's Church started in 1834. A man named Reverend Henry Tullidge came to the area. He was a missionary, which means he traveled to share his faith. He held the first church services in Dubuque not long after he arrived. Reverend Tullidge helped people in the surrounding areas with their spiritual needs.
In 1845, St. John's Church officially became a parish. A parish is a local church community. Bishop Jackson Kemper and local people helped organize it. They built the first brick church building at Ninth and Locust Streets.
Building a New Church
The church community grew bigger over time. They wanted to build a new, larger church. However, the American Civil War (1861-1865) put these plans on hold. After the war, a group of women from the church worked hard. They raised money to buy new land for the church. This land was at the corner of Loras and Main Streets. Before the church was built, an old building called Norton's Rookery stood there.
Construction on the current church building began in 1875. It took three years to build and was finished in 1878.
Design and Features of the Church
The church was designed by Henry M. Congdon, an architect from New York. He designed it in a style called High Victorian Gothic. This style uses strong shapes and details, often inspired by old European cathedrals.
The walls of the church are made from rough-cut limestone. This stone was brought from a quarry (a place where stone is dug out) in nearby Farley, Iowa. The church has a cross-shaped design when you look at it from above.
Some cool features of the church include:
- A tower on one corner with a crenelated top. This means it has a top that looks like the walls of a castle.
- Entrances that are set back into the building.
- A beautiful round window called a rose window.
- Small windows sticking out from the roof, called roof dormers.
- A shorter tower at the back of the church with a pointed top, called a spire.
The main, larger tower was actually designed to be taller with another spire on top. But these parts were never built. Inside, five of the amazing stained glass windows were made by Louis Comfort Tiffany's studio. Tiffany was a very famous artist known for his beautiful glasswork.
