Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church (Mapleton, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church is a former parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
. The historic building is located in Mapleton, Iowa
, United States
. The church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1990. The former church building and hall now house the Museum of American History.
. Trinity Memorial was one of at least seven churches he designed in the Diocese of Iowa. In addition, he also designed Kemper Hall, an Episcopal school for boys, and St. Katherine’s Hall
, a school for girls, both of were located in Davenport. Albert and Edmund Jenkinson Contractors of Sioux City, Iowa
built the building. The cornerstone
was laid on May 28, 1896 by Bishop William Stevens Perry
with assistance of the Quarry Lodge No. 404 A.F. & A.M.
of Mapleton. The church was consecrated on September 20, 1896. It cost approximately $15,000 to build the church and it was deeded to the Trustees of the Diocese of Iowa the year it was built.
The stain glass windows were donated by St. Thomas Episcopal Church
in Sioux City. They had been removed from their former church before it was torn down in 1892. A rectory
, which is now a private home, had been built at the same time as the church. The Rev. William Frost was the parish’s first resident priest to live in the house. The Guild Hall was built in 1926.
The Rev. Vine Victor Deloria, first priest of Native American
heritage to serve in the Diocese of Iowa, was priest-in-charge at Trinity Memorial, Trinity in Denison
, and St. John's in Vail
from 1951-1953. After working in Washington, DC he returned to the diocese to serve as vicar at St. Paul's
in Durant
from 1959-1960 after which he left the diocese.
The funeral of Charles G. Whiting, son of C.I. and Flora Whiting, was the last liturgy celebrated in the church in 1984. Services to deconsecrate the church were held in 1988. The church building and hall were purchased that same year by Keith Robinson for the museum. His collection of political Americana provided the nucleus of the museum’s collection, and remains its primary exhibit. The museum also has artifacts of local interest that appear in the context of significant national events.
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 historic building is located in Mapleton, Iowa
Mapleton, Iowa
Mapleton is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mapleton is located at...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The church 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 1990. The former church building and hall now house the Museum of American History.
History
The church building was built as a memorial to Flora E. (Giddings) Whiting by her husband C.I. Whiting. It was designed in a combination of the Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival styles by Edward S. Hammatt from Davenport, IowaDavenport, 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 Memorial was one of at least seven churches he designed in the Diocese of Iowa. In addition, he also designed Kemper Hall, an Episcopal school for boys, and St. Katherine’s Hall
St. Katherine's Historic District
St. Katherine's Historic District is located on the east side Davenport, Iowa, United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the campus of a former Episcopal girl’s school named St. Katherine’s Hall. It is currently the location of a senior living facility called...
, a school for girls, both of were located in Davenport. Albert and Edmund Jenkinson Contractors of Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
built the building. The cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
was laid on May 28, 1896 by Bishop William Stevens Perry
William Stevens Perry
William Stevens Perry was a 19th century bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America and an educator. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Iowa from 1876 - 1898....
with assistance of the Quarry Lodge No. 404 A.F. & A.M.
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
of Mapleton. The church was consecrated on September 20, 1896. It cost approximately $15,000 to build the church and it was deeded to the Trustees of the Diocese of Iowa the year it was built.
The stain glass windows were donated by St. Thomas Episcopal Church
St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Sioux City, Iowa)
St. Thomas Episcopal Church is a parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. The church is located in Sioux City, Iowa, United States, at 1200 Douglas Street. The church building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
in Sioux City. They had been removed from their former church before it was torn down in 1892. A rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
, which is now a private home, had been built at the same time as the church. The Rev. William Frost was the parish’s first resident priest to live in the house. The Guild Hall was built in 1926.
The Rev. Vine Victor Deloria, first priest of Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
heritage to serve in the Diocese of Iowa, was priest-in-charge at Trinity Memorial, Trinity in Denison
Denison, Iowa
Denison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 7,339 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County.-Geography:Denison is located at ....
, and St. John's in Vail
Vail, Iowa
Vail is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States. The population was 452 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Vail is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
from 1951-1953. After working in Washington, DC he returned to the diocese to serve as vicar at St. Paul's
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Durant, Iowa)
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is a parish church in the Diocese of Iowa. The church is located in Durant, Iowa, United States. The parish was founded in 1856. The church building and parish hall have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985.-History:The Rt. Rev...
in Durant
Durant, Iowa
Durant is a city in Cedar, Muscatine, and Scott counties in the US state of Iowa. The population was 1,677 at the 2000 census. The community is named in honor of Thomas C...
from 1959-1960 after which he left the diocese.
The funeral of Charles G. Whiting, son of C.I. and Flora Whiting, was the last liturgy celebrated in the church in 1984. Services to deconsecrate the church were held in 1988. The church building and hall were purchased that same year by Keith Robinson for the museum. His collection of political Americana provided the nucleus of the museum’s collection, and remains its primary exhibit. The museum also has artifacts of local interest that appear in the context of significant national events.