First United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
First United Methodist Church is located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa
, United States
. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 1984 as First Methodist Episcopal Church, which is its original name.
The groundbreaking for the present church was begun in 1905, and the cornerstone
was laid during a ceremony on July 21, 1906. The church building was dedicated on June 14, 1908. A major restoration of the building was completed in 1940 with a new chancel and altar, rose window
, a new pew arrangement, and a renewal of the pipe organ
. The education wing was built in 1954. A new Reuter organ was added in 1962 as was the marble backdrop and the Celtic Cross
. In 1980 a historical mural was dedicated in the west balcony. The dome and the sanctuary were renovated in 2007.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has been 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...
since 1984 as First Methodist Episcopal Church, which is its original name.
History
The congregation was organized through a series of Bible Study meetings that were held in Rathburn Cabin in 1845. Early church services were also held in cabins in the early years. The first church building for the congregation was constructed in 1848 on Fifth Street, south of Walnut, and a larger brick structure was built on the same site in 1856. Four years later the congregation lost ownership of the building and had to rent the basement of the building for three years while the main sanctuary was used as a public hall for concerts, lectures and the like. The congregation dedicated a new church on Ninth Street in 1881.The groundbreaking for the present church was begun in 1905, and 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 during a ceremony on July 21, 1906. The church building was dedicated on June 14, 1908. A major restoration of the building was completed in 1940 with a new chancel and altar, rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
, a new pew arrangement, and a renewal of the 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...
. The education wing was built in 1954. A new Reuter organ was added in 1962 as was the marble backdrop and the Celtic Cross
Celtic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
. In 1980 a historical mural was dedicated in the west balcony. The dome and the sanctuary were renovated in 2007.
See also
Other United Methodist Churches in Des Moines on the National Register of Historic Places:- Burns United Methodist ChurchBurns United Methodist ChurchBurns United Methodist Church is located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.-History:...
- Trinity United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa)Trinity United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa)Trinity United Methodist Church, is located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 as Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, which is its previous name.-History:...