St. Michael's Catholic Church (Holbrook, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
St. Michael’s Catholic Church is a former parish of the Diocese of Davenport
. The church is located on County Road F 52, east of Parnell, Iowa
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as St. Michael’s Church, Cemetery, Rectory, and Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall.
that became known as Holbrook was settled by Irish immigrants or descendants of Irish immigrants. Thomas Hanson, one of those settlers, brought the priest from Iowa City
in his lumber wagon and Mass was celebrated in his home. People from the surrounding area would gather for the Mass. The parish was established in 1843 and plans to erect a church were begun.
A small frame church was built in what is now St. Michael’s Cemetery, near the site of the present church building. The Rev. Mathias Hannon, who came to Holbrook from St. Mary's
in Iowa City for the first time in 1853, described the church thus, "I said mass within before the floor was laid, had the beautiful snow for carpet, and a pine box for an altar in fact a place as forlorn as the stable wherein the Savior was born. There was no more than fourteen families."
Bishop Mathias Loras
of the Diocese of Dubuque
assigned the Rev. Peter J. Sullivan as the first resident pastor. He built the current church building in the Romanesque Revival
style in 1867. The building is constructed of brick
, measures 90 by 50 feet and cost about $2,000 to build. The pastor himself donated the paintings for the Stations of the Cross
, which cost $1,000. They are no longer in the church and what happened to them is unknown.
The parish became part of the Davenport Diocese when it was established in 1881. Alterations were made to the buildings as the years continued. The bell, which is still in the tower, was cast in St. Louis
in 1882. A new dome
was placed on top of the bell tower during the pastorate of the Rev. Thomas King (1889–1909). During the pastorate of the Rev. Edward Gaule (1909–1917) a new sanctuary with new altars were added to the church. The new bell tower, the third one constructed on this site, was added at this time as well. An addition was added on to the rectory when the Rev. John J. Moriarity (1917–1922) was pastor. The Rev. James M. Ryan (1922–1927) added stucco
to the exterior of the church during his pastorate.
In 1885 Bishop Henry Cosgrove
assigned the Rev. James Davis
as the pastor. He was an Irish immigrant who came to the Dubuque Diocese shortly after his ordination in 1878. At the time St. Joseph’s in Parnell
was a mission to St. Michael’s, and Davis built both the school and church there. He also built the front part of the present rectory in Holbrook. Four years later he was transferred to St. Margaret’s Cathedral in Davenport
. He would be the cathedral’s rector
and direct the construction of the new Sacred Heart Cathedral. The people of Holbrook considered the transfer a demotion seeing as St. Margaret’s was a smaller parish. Father Davis went on to become coadjutor bishop
in 1904 and then Bishop of Davenport in 1906.
As the 20th century progressed the rural population of Iowa decreased, and the Holbrook area was no different. Toward the end of the century St. Michael’s was clustered with other parishes in the area and served by a single priest. Finally in the 1990s it was determined that there were no longer enough people to keep the parish open. In a little over a century St. Michael’s went from being “the largest and best parish in the diocese” to closing. The parish buildings were sold to the Friend’s of St. Michael’s, who are now responsible for their upkeep.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
. The church is located on County Road F 52, east of Parnell, Iowa
Parnell, Iowa
Parnell is a city in Iowa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 220 at the 2000 census.-History:Parnell, in Fillmore Township, Iowa County, Iowa, was named after Charles Stewart Parnell, a noble Irish statesman who had come to the American people to plead the cause of Ireland's...
. It is 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...
as St. Michael’s Church, Cemetery, Rectory, and Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall.
History
The area of Iowa County, IowaIowa County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,355 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,258 housing units, of which 6,677 were occupied.-2000 census:...
that became known as Holbrook was settled by Irish immigrants or descendants of Irish immigrants. Thomas Hanson, one of those settlers, brought the priest from Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
in his lumber wagon and Mass was celebrated in his home. People from the surrounding area would gather for the Mass. The parish was established in 1843 and plans to erect a church were begun.
A small frame church was built in what is now St. Michael’s Cemetery, near the site of the present church building. The Rev. Mathias Hannon, who came to Holbrook from St. Mary's
St. Mary's Church and Rectory (Iowa City, Iowa)
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Davenport located at 220 E. Jefferson St. in Iowa City, Iowa. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Mary's Church and Rectory. The parish's first rectory, which is now a private home, is also listed on the NRHP as...
in Iowa City for the first time in 1853, described the church thus, "I said mass within before the floor was laid, had the beautiful snow for carpet, and a pine box for an altar in fact a place as forlorn as the stable wherein the Savior was born. There was no more than fourteen families."
Bishop Mathias Loras
Mathias Loras
Bishop Mathias Loras was an immigrant French priest to the United States who later became the first bishop of the Dubuque Diocese in what would become the state of Iowa.-Early Life & Ministry:...
of the Diocese of Dubuque
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa counties north of Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Clinton counties. ...
assigned the Rev. Peter J. Sullivan as the first resident pastor. He built the current church building in the Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style in 1867. The building is constructed of brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
, measures 90 by 50 feet and cost about $2,000 to build. The pastor himself donated the paintings for the Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
, which cost $1,000. They are no longer in the church and what happened to them is unknown.
The parish became part of the Davenport Diocese when it was established in 1881. Alterations were made to the buildings as the years continued. The bell, which is still in the tower, was cast in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1882. A new dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
was placed on top of the bell tower during the pastorate of the Rev. Thomas King (1889–1909). During the pastorate of the Rev. Edward Gaule (1909–1917) a new sanctuary with new altars were added to the church. The new bell tower, the third one constructed on this site, was added at this time as well. An addition was added on to the rectory when the Rev. John J. Moriarity (1917–1922) was pastor. The Rev. James M. Ryan (1922–1927) added stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
to the exterior of the church during his pastorate.
In 1885 Bishop Henry Cosgrove
Henry Cosgrove
Henry Cosgrove was a late 19th century and early 20th century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the second bishop of Diocese of Davenport, in the state of Iowa from 1884-1906....
assigned the Rev. James Davis
James J. Davis (Catholic bishop)
James J. Davis was a 20th-century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in the state of Iowa from 1906 to 1926.-Early life and ministry:...
as the pastor. He was an Irish immigrant who came to the Dubuque Diocese shortly after his ordination in 1878. At the time St. Joseph’s in Parnell
Parnell, Iowa
Parnell is a city in Iowa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 220 at the 2000 census.-History:Parnell, in Fillmore Township, Iowa County, Iowa, was named after Charles Stewart Parnell, a noble Irish statesman who had come to the American people to plead the cause of Ireland's...
was a mission to St. Michael’s, and Davis built both the school and church there. He also built the front part of the present rectory in Holbrook. Four years later he was transferred to St. Margaret’s Cathedral in Davenport
Davenport, 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...
. He would be the cathedral’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...
and direct the construction of the new Sacred Heart Cathedral. The people of Holbrook considered the transfer a demotion seeing as St. Margaret’s was a smaller parish. Father Davis went on to become coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
in 1904 and then Bishop of Davenport in 1906.
As the 20th century progressed the rural population of Iowa decreased, and the Holbrook area was no different. Toward the end of the century St. Michael’s was clustered with other parishes in the area and served by a single priest. Finally in the 1990s it was determined that there were no longer enough people to keep the parish open. In a little over a century St. Michael’s went from being “the largest and best parish in the diocese” to closing. The parish buildings were sold to the Friend’s of St. Michael’s, who are now responsible for their upkeep.