St. John Chrysostom Church (Delafield, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John Chrysostom Church
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1111 Genesee St., Delafield, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | Richard M. Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000069 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
The St. John Chrysostom Church, also known as the Episcopal Church of St. John Chrysostom or the Little Red Church on the Hill, is a beautiful wooden Episcopal church. It was built way back in 1852 in Delafield, a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. This historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, recognizing its special importance.
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Building the Little Red Church
St. John's Church was built between 1851 and 1853. It is a wooden building designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style is known for its tall, vertical look and pointed arches over windows and doors.
Who Designed the Church?
People in the area often say that Robert Ralston Cox, who helped start the church, designed it. However, an expert in old buildings, Richard Perrin, thinks the design came from a book. He believes it was based on plans from Richard Upjohn's book, Upjohn's Rural Architecture. This book showed designs for wooden churches and other country buildings.
Perrin noticed that the church's main shape and size are very similar to Upjohn's design. Even the inside, like where the pulpit, organ, and choir seats are, matches closely. The triple window and the detailed wooden decorations inside are also very much like Upjohn's plans.
Unique Features
There is one big difference between St. John's and Upjohn's original design. Upjohn's plan included a tower on the church itself. But St. John's has its bell house as a separate building standing next to the church.
Local craftspeople also added their own special touches to the church. A carpenter named Alden Kelly added decorative wooden boards called bargeboards with carved designs. He also created the rood screen inside the church. A blacksmith named Jacob Luther made the iron hinges for the doors. He shaped them to look like tree branches.
Early Days of the Church
James DeKoven was the first leader, or rector, of the church. He served from 1855 to 1859. Bishop Jackson Kemper officially dedicated the building on May 20, 1856. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1972.
One notable person who served as rector was Arthur Anton Vogel. He was the fifth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri. He led the church from 1953 to 1957.
