St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Sioux City, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Thomas Episcopal Church
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View from the southwest, across 12th and Douglas
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1200 Douglas St. Sioux City, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1892 |
| Built by | John M. Poorbaugh |
| Architect | James W. Martin |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001612 |
| Added to NRHP | September 27, 1984 |
St. Thomas Episcopal Church is a beautiful old church located in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. It's part of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. This special church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of St. Thomas Church
The first Episcopal Church service in Sioux City happened in 1857. A missionary from Council Bluffs, Iowa led this service. St. Thomas Church was officially started just two years later, in 1859.
Early Buildings and Growth
In 1860, a small wooden church was built for the church members. It was located at the corner of Nebraska and 7th Streets and cost about $1,550. By 1881, the church needed more space. So, they added onto the building. At the same time, a rectory was built. A rectory is a house where the church's priest or minister lives. They also bought a pipe organ for the church. It cost the same amount as the original church building!
Building the Current Church
The first stone for the church you see today was laid in 1891. This means construction officially began then. A local architect named James W. Martin designed the church. He used the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy walls. John M. Poorbaugh was the builder for this project.
The church building was finished in 1892. It cost a lot of money to build, about $80,000 back then! Before the old church was torn down, its stained glass windows were carefully removed. These beautiful windows were given to Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church in Mapleton, Iowa in 1893. They were then placed in their new church, which was built in 1896.
In 1909, St. Thomas Church bought a new pipe organ. The Weare Chapel was also added to the church building around the same time.
Fires and Renovations
In 1922, a fire broke out in the church. It was caused by an overheated furnace. The fire caused a lot of damage, so the church had to be rebuilt. A new organ was also purchased after the fire. The church was decorated again in 1951, giving it a fresh look.
In the early 1960s, the Parish House was built. This is a separate building often used for church activities and meetings. The church also got a new rectory around this time. In 1980, the Weare Chapel was restored. Howard Tervillian, an architect from the Washington National Cathedral, helped with this project. The church had another renovation in 1982 to keep it in good condition.
Architecture of St. Thomas Church
The church building is about 120 feet long and 67 feet wide. It has a mostly rectangular shape. The design was inspired by later works of Henry Hobson Richardson, a famous architect. This means it has a simpler, more block-like shape.
Exterior Features
The outside of the church is covered in rose-colored Sioux Quartzite. This is a very strong type of stone. The stones were laid in a special pattern called "broken ashlar". The roof is made of slate and has a cross shape when viewed from above. This gives the building a grand and impressive feeling.
A tall, four-story tower stands on one corner of the church. It is built in the Norman style and reaches about 78 feet high. The two-story Weare Chapel sticks out a little from the main building on its northeast side.
Interior Design
Inside the church, you'll see a steeply sloped ceiling made of birch wood. This is a special type of roof called a hammer beam ceiling. There is also wainscoting on the lower part of the walls. A large Gothic arch marks the opening to the chancel, which is the area around the altar. The inside of the church was restored after the 1922 fire to look much like it did originally.
