St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cedar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Cedar
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4 miles west of Churdan, Iowa on E. 19, 0.5 miles north on a gravel road |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1915 |
| Built by | C.F Mayer & Co. |
| Architect | William LeBarthe Steele |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000840 |
| Added to NRHP | July 10, 1992 |
St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cedar, also known as Cedar Catholic Church, is a historic building located west of Churdan, Iowa, in the United States. It used to be a church for the Diocese of Sioux City. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Today, it's a special place for prayer called an oratory, which is a smaller chapel.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
Early Days and First Church
The Cedar Creek area of Greene County, Iowa, became home to Irish Catholic families in the 1850s. The very first Mass (a Catholic church service) was held in June 1863. It took place in the home of Myles Fitzpatrick, led by Father Marsh from Fort Dodge. Other priests also visited and served the community.
In 1872, Myles Fitzpatrick gave five acres of land to build a church. He also donated the wood needed for construction. This became the first Catholic church in Greene County. It was a white wooden building with a bell tower, built by L. Isaac Ritchie. The first priest assigned to the church was Rev. George Costello. He also served another church in Lohrville at the same time. St. Patrick's was always a rural mission, meaning it never had a priest living there full-time.
The church started as part of the Diocese of Dubuque. Later, in 1902, it became part of the new Diocese of Sioux City.
Building the Current Church
The church building you see today was constructed in 1915. It was designed by a well-known architect from Sioux City, William LeBarthe Steele. C. F. Mayer of Humboldt built it, and it cost about $24,000. Bishop Philip J. Garrigan officially opened the church on November 7, 1915.
Just four years later, on June 15, 1919, a fire badly damaged the building. It was mostly reduced to a brick shell because there was no way to fight the fire. People thought the church might have to close and join with another church in Churdan. But the community was determined to rebuild. They used the original foundation and walls to reconstruct the church in the years that followed.
Challenges and Changes
The Great Depression (a time of severe economic hardship in the 1930s) was tough for the church. It owed money to a bank. In 1934, the church property was temporarily taken over because of the debt. However, a person named Dennis Hayes bought the property in a public sale. The debt was paid off in 1936, and the property was given back to the church.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the church building began to show its age. It was then carefully repaired and updated. In 1992, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
In 1988, St. Patrick's became part of a group of churches in the Sioux City diocese. This group included churches in Churdan, Paton, and Grand Junction. In 1995, the group changed to include St. Patrick's, the Churdan church, and St. Paul's in Scranton. In August 1996, St. Patrick's was officially changed from a full parish church to an oratory.
Building Style: Romanesque Revival
The church building is designed in the Romanesque Revival style. It measures about 70 feet long and 41 feet wide. It's built with special matt-faced, vitrified brick and stone.
Key Features
- Tall Tower: The front of the church has a tall tower on one side. It used to hold a bell, but the bell was destroyed in the 1919 fire and was never replaced. The main entrance to the church is through this tower.
- Gothic Touches: Even though it's mostly Romanesque, the church also has some features from the Gothic Revival style. These include a very steep roof and a round rose window on the front.
- Windows: The sides of the church have six sections, each with windows. All the windows have rounded tops and are filled with beautiful stained glass.
- Inside the Church: At the back of the church, there's a small pump organ. The inside of the church was rebuilt in the 1920s after the fire.
- Outbuildings: The church never had running water inside. So, two outhouses (outdoor toilets) were built on the property. One is made of brick, and the other is made of tile and stucco. These outhouses are also considered important parts of the church's historic designation.
- Iron Gate: Near the main entrance, there's a wrought-iron gate above concrete steps that says "ST. PATRICK'S." This gate is also considered a historically important part of the property.
St. Patrick's Church is important because of its connection to architect William Steele. It's also seen as one of the best examples of Romanesque Revival style in Greene County.
