Cathedral Church of Saint Paul (Des Moines)
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, is located at 815 High Street, Des Moines
, Iowa
in the United States
. It is the cathedral
church of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2010 as St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
for ten communicants. A brick and frame church building was completed in 1857 on Seventh Street between Locust and Walnut Streets. By 1870 the congregation decided to replace its church building and purchased the current site.
The present church building was completed in 1885. It was designed by Des Moines architects Foster and Liebbe in the Gothic Revival
style. Its basement was not exposed as it is now because Ninth and High Streets were lowered at a later date. Originally the church had a wooden steeple
, but it was destroyed in a storm in the 1930s. It was replaced in the 1960s by a structure with a steel core. Later the tower was strengthened when the 25-bell carillon
was added. A kitchen was added below the sanctuary in 1939. The Rambush Company
redecorated the chancel
in the 1940s and the current reredos
was added at that time.
In 1950 the parish's rector
, the Rev. Gordon V. Smith
, was elected the sixth Bishop of Iowa. The parish house was built in 1952. The building was designed by Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson, and Brooks Borg Architects of Des Moines. The new addition created space for classrooms, clergy and staff offices, the Guild Hall, and a chapel.
The Rev. S. Suzanne Peterson was ordained a deacon
at St. Paul's on December 18, 1976. She was the first woman ordained in the Diocese of Iowa.
A $1.4 million renovation was undertaken in the 1980s when the congregation decided to remain downtown. William Dikis was the architect for the project. Further renovations were undertaken to the chancel area when the current pipe organ
was installed in 1993. The new organ, Opus 3719, was built by Casavant Frères, Ltd
of Saint-Hyacinthe
, Quebec
. The St. Sacrament Chapel was added at this time, reusing the original tabernacle
.
Over the years St. Paul’s has assisted in the establishment of new mission churches in the Des Moines area. These churches and the year they were established include: St. Luke's in 1905, St. Andrew's in 1950 and St. Timothy's in 1960.
, Trinity Cathedral
. The blessing of the cathedral took place on October 23, 1993. Bishop C. Christopher Epting
, who had been the diocesan bishop since 1988 celebrated his investiture in the new cathedral in December 1993. Present was Bishop Lawrence Edward Luscombe
, the retired Bishop of Brechin and former Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
church of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which covers all of Iowa. It is in Province VI. Its offices are in Des Moines, and it has two cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of St...
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2010 as St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
St. Paul's had its beginnings on October 15, 1854 when the first service was held at Fort Des MoinesFort Des Moines
Fort Des Moines can refer to:*Fort Des Moines No. 1 , a U.S. Army post that grew into Montrose, Iowa*Fort Des Moines No. 2 , a U.S. Army post that grew into Des Moines, Iowa...
for ten communicants. A brick and frame church building was completed in 1857 on Seventh Street between Locust and Walnut Streets. By 1870 the congregation decided to replace its church building and purchased the current site.
The present church building was completed in 1885. It was designed by Des Moines architects Foster and Liebbe in the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style. Its basement was not exposed as it is now because Ninth and High Streets were lowered at a later date. Originally the church had a wooden steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
, but it was destroyed in a storm in the 1930s. It was replaced in the 1960s by a structure with a steel core. Later the tower was strengthened when the 25-bell carillon
Carillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
was added. A kitchen was added below the sanctuary in 1939. The Rambush Company
Rambusch Decorating Company
The Rambusch Decorating Company was founded in 1898 in New York, New York by Frode Rambusch, a Danish immigrant.In the 1920's, it was the decorator for many elaborate movie palaces, including the famed Roxy Theatre in New York City, which seated 6,214 and opened in March, 1927. That project was...
redecorated the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
in the 1940s and the current reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
was added at that time.
In 1950 the parish's rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, the Rev. Gordon V. Smith
Gordon V. Smith
Gordon V. Smith was a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was bishop of the Diocese of Iowa from 1950-1971. He was the first Bishop of Iowa who was canonically resident in the state when he was elected bishop.-Early life & Ministry:Gordon Smith was born in...
, was elected the sixth Bishop of Iowa. The parish house was built in 1952. The building was designed by Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson, and Brooks Borg Architects of Des Moines. The new addition created space for classrooms, clergy and staff offices, the Guild Hall, and a chapel.
The Rev. S. Suzanne Peterson was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
at St. Paul's on December 18, 1976. She was the first woman ordained in the Diocese of Iowa.
A $1.4 million renovation was undertaken in the 1980s when the congregation decided to remain downtown. William Dikis was the architect for the project. Further renovations were undertaken to the chancel area when the current pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
was installed in 1993. The new organ, Opus 3719, was built by Casavant Frères, Ltd
Casavant Frères
Casavant Frères is a prominent Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building fine pipe organs since 1879. As of 2008, they have produced over 3800 organs.- Company history :...
of Saint-Hyacinthe
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Saint-Hyacinthe is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 55,823. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montérégie region, and is traversed by the Yamaska River which flows...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The St. Sacrament Chapel was added at this time, reusing the original tabernacle
Church tabernacle
A tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" . A less obvious container, set into the wall, is called an aumbry....
.
Over the years St. Paul’s has assisted in the establishment of new mission churches in the Des Moines area. These churches and the year they were established include: St. Luke's in 1905, St. Andrew's in 1950 and St. Timothy's in 1960.
Cathedral Church
In 1992 the Diocese of Iowa decided that St. Paul's would become the liturgical cathedral for the Diocese of Iowa. It shares this distinction with the diocese’s historic cathedral in DavenportDavenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Davenport, Iowa)
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is the historic cathedral in the Diocese of Iowa. The cathedral is located on the bluff overlooking Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974...
. The blessing of the cathedral took place on October 23, 1993. Bishop C. Christopher Epting
Carl Christopher Epting
Carl Christopher "Chris" Epting is a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He served the Diocese of Iowa as coadjutor bishop and diocesan bishop from 1988–2001, and as the Deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations for the Episcopal Church from 2001-2009.-Early...
, who had been the diocesan bishop since 1988 celebrated his investiture in the new cathedral in December 1993. Present was Bishop Lawrence Edward Luscombe
Lawrence Edward Luscombe
The Right Rev Lawrence Edward Luscombe , is an eminent Anglican priest and author.He was educated at Torquay Boys' Grammar School, King's College London and Kelham Theological College, served in the Indian Army 1942-47 reaching the rank of Major, became a Chartered Accountant in 1952 and worked...
, the retired Bishop of Brechin and former Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus, styled The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd David Chillingworth who became Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 13 June 2009...
.