St. Luke's Methodist Church (Monticello, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Luke's Methodist Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 211 N. Sycamore Monticello, Iowa |
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1949-50 |
| Architect | Cram & Ferguson |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001461 |
| Added to NRHP | January 17, 2002 |
St. Luke's Methodist Church is a beautiful old building in Monticello, Iowa. It was built in 1950. Today, it's known as the Monticello Heritage and Cultural Center. This church is special because it was designed by famous architects, Cram & Ferguson. They were known for designing churches. It is the only church in Iowa designed by this well-known firm.
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Designing a Special Church
The people building the church wanted it to look amazing. They chose Cram & Ferguson because they were a "world famous" firm. This company had designed many important churches. These included large cathedrals in New York and Detroit. They also designed churches in Pittsburgh, St. Paul, and Chicago. St. Luke's Methodist Church was their first church design in Iowa.
Choosing the Architects
It's not fully known how the church committee found Cram & Ferguson. One idea is that Daniel L. Marsh helped connect them. Marsh was the president of Boston University. This university was connected to the Methodist church. Cram & Ferguson had designed many buildings for Boston University. These designs were often written about in Methodist magazines.
History of the Church Building
The church group started in 1858. They built their first church on this spot in 1863. It cost $1,750. This first building was replaced in 1899. The second church had some design problems. The church built in 1949-1950 is the third Methodist church on this site.
A New Purpose
After the third church was finished, it had 350 members. Over time, the number of members went down. In the 1990s, the church joined with another local church. They formed the United Church of Monticello. For a while, they held services in both church buildings.
Eventually, the St. Luke's church building was given to the Monticello Heritage and Cultural Center. This group wanted to save the building. In 2000, they received a grant to buy the property. By 2001, the building was being used for concerts and cultural events. It also became a history museum.
Unique Design Features
The architects faced a challenge with this small church. The church needed a large community room. A common "Late Gothic Revival" style roof is very steep. This could have made the community room roof much higher than the main church.
Solving the Roof Challenge
Cram & Ferguson solved this problem with a clever roof design. They created a complex roof system with different heights. This allowed the community room to fit well. The "Gothic Revival" style can also be seen in the building materials. It is also clear in many small architectural details.
National Recognition
St. Luke's Methodist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it is an important historical site. It was recognized for showing how Cram & Ferguson adapted their famous style. They used their "Late Gothic Revival" design for a smaller church building.
See also
- St. Luke's United Methodist Church (Dubuque, Iowa), another church in Iowa listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
