St. Matthew's Episcopal Church (Kenosha, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
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U.S. Historic district
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St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5900 7th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1872-1879 |
| Architect | A. H. Ellwood |
| Part of | Library Park Historic District (ID88002657) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000090 |
| Added to NRHP | June 6, 1979 |
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is a beautiful old church in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was built a long time ago and is very important for its design and history. Because of this, it was added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee.
Contents
The Church's Story: How It Began
St. Matthew's Church was finished in 1879. It is the oldest church building in Kenosha. The church community started much earlier, on April 17, 1840. It was founded by Jackson Kemper. He was the very first missionary bishop for the Episcopal Church in the United States.
Building the First Church
In 1841, a simple wooden chapel was built. This chapel served the early settlers in Kenosha. The church tried to build a bigger place in the 1850s. However, they lost their money during a financial crisis in 1857.
Finding a New Home
In 1871, the church bought the land where the current St. Matthew's now stands. This spot was chosen because it was close to Library Park. This park was a central place in the Kenosha community.
Who Designed St. Matthew's?
The church was designed by A. H. Ellwood. He was an architect from Aurora, Illinois. Ellwood was known for designing public buildings and churches.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
St. Matthew's Church was officially recognized as a historic place. The National Park Service added it to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1979. Later, on November 29, 1988, it became part of the Library Park Historic District. This means it's an important building within a larger historic area.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church was built using strong limestone. This stone came from places like Joliet, Illinois and Racine, Wisconsin. The outside walls have a rough, textured look. But the stone around windows and doors is smooth and neatly cut.
Key Features of the Building
The main part of the church, called the nave, has a very steep roof. This roof has stone caps along its edges. Between the stone supports, called buttresses, you can see pairs of beautiful stained glass windows.
The Church Tower
A tall, square tower rises from one corner of the church. It also has strong stone supports at each corner. The tower has a clock. Below the clock are wooden louvers, which are like angled slats. At the very top, there's a decorative wall that looks like a castle, called a castellated parapet.
Other Parts of the Church
The rounded end of the building, called the apse, is on the north side. There's also a smaller wing on the west side. This wing is called the sacristy. It's where the priests prepare for services.
Updates Over Time
The original roof was made of slate. In 1974, it was replaced with a similar new slate roof. A large pipe organ was added in 1926. This organ was made by a famous builder named Ernest M. Skinner. In 1987, the big windows on the south side of the church were replaced with new, modern stained glass windows.
