Congregational United Church of Christ (Iowa City, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Congregational United Church of Christ is located in the downtown area of Iowa City, Iowa
, United States
and the campus of the University of Iowa
. The congregation was organized in 1856 and the church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
was laid in 1868. The Gothic Revival building cost $30,000 to construct, and it was dedicated on December 9, 1869.
A parsonage was built on the eastside of the church in 1891, which was later sold to the university and is now the location of the biology building. In 1903 a Lyon and Healy
organ was installed. Other additions to the church include the administration annex, which was built in 1924, and the Little Chapel built in 1940.
In 1957 the Congregational Church
and the Evangelical and Reformed Church
merged to form the United Church of Christ
. The congregation was affiliated with the new church at this time. The same year a new Wicks
organ was installed and the Christian Education building was added.
Renovations to the church building made for a new ground floor entry and improvements to the social hall, choir loft and chancel
in 1969. The sanctuary became handicapped accessible in 1986, and was renovated in 2002.
The Casavant Frères
, Opus 3867, pipe organ was donated anonymously to the congregation in 2007. It combines elements of the church’s pervious instruments. The base of the reredos woodwork is from the 1903 Lyon and Healy organ; the upper portion of the case, with the Gothic style embellishments, were from the 1934 additions; and seven ranks from the 1958 Wicks organ are part of the 29 ranks of the new organ.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the campus of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. The congregation was organized in 1856 and 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 1973.
History
Seventeen individuals signed the charter that initiated the congregation in 1856. Chicago architect Gurdon P. Randall designed the present church and the cornerstoneCornerstone
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 in 1868. The Gothic Revival building cost $30,000 to construct, and it was dedicated on December 9, 1869.
A parsonage was built on the eastside of the church in 1891, which was later sold to the university and is now the location of the biology building. In 1903 a Lyon and Healy
Lyon and Healy
Lyon & Healy is an American manufacturer of harps founded in 1864 in Chicago by George W. Lyon and Patrick J. Healy. Lyon & Healy has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, United States, which, in addition to being the location of the production of its harps, also contains a showroom and concert...
organ was installed. Other additions to the church include the administration annex, which was built in 1924, and the Little Chapel built in 1940.
In 1957 the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
and the Evangelical and Reformed Church
Evangelical and Reformed Church
The Evangelical and Reformed Church was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. It was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States with the Evangelical Synod of North America . After the 1934 merger, a minority within the RCUS seceded in order to...
merged to form the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
. The congregation was affiliated with the new church at this time. The same year a new Wicks
Wicks Organ Company
The Wicks Organ Company is an organ manufacturer in Highland, Illinois in the United States; where they build, repair, and restore organs.-History:...
organ was installed and the Christian Education building was added.
Renovations to the church building made for a new ground floor entry and improvements to the social hall, choir loft and 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 1969. The sanctuary became handicapped accessible in 1986, and was renovated in 2002.
The Casavant Frères
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 :...
, Opus 3867, pipe organ was donated anonymously to the congregation in 2007. It combines elements of the church’s pervious instruments. The base of the reredos woodwork is from the 1903 Lyon and Healy organ; the upper portion of the case, with the Gothic style embellishments, were from the 1934 additions; and seven ranks from the 1958 Wicks organ are part of the 29 ranks of the new organ.