St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Sioux City, Iowa)

United States historic place

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

View from the southwest, across 12th and Douglas

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Location| 1200 Douglas St.
Sioux City, Iowa
Coordinates| 42°30′11″N 96°24′23″W﻿ / ﻿42.50306°N 96.40639°W﻿ / 42.50306; -96.40639
Area| less than one acre
Built| 1892
Built by| John M. Poorbaugh
Architect| James W. Martin
Architectural style| Romanesque Revival
NRHP reference No.| 84001612[1]
Added to NRHP| September 27, 1984

St. Thomas Episcopal Church is a parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. The church is located in Sioux City, Iowa, United States. The church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[1]

## History[edit]

The first Episcopal Church service in Sioux City was conducted by a missionary from Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1857. St. Thomas Church was established two years later. A small frame church was built for the congregation on the corner of Nebraska and 7th Streets in 1860 for $1,550.[2] By 1881 it became necessary to add onto the church, and a rectory was built at the same time. A pipe organ was purchased for the same price that the original church was built.

The cornerstone for the present church was laid in 1891. The church was designed in the Romanesque Revival style by local architect James W. Martin. John M. Poorbaugh was the contractor. It is considered an excellent example of the Richardsonian Romanesque mode.[3] The building was completed in 1892 and cost about $80,000 to build.[2] The stained glass windows from the old church were removed before the building was torn down. They were donated in 1893 to Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church in Mapleton, Iowa and were placed in their new church built in 1896.[4] A new pipe organ was purchased in 1909 and the Weare Chapel was added at the same time.

In 1922 a fire from an overheated furnace caused extensive damage to the church. The building had to be rebuilt and a new organ was purchased. The church was redecorated again in 1951.

In the early 1960s, the Parish House was built and the parish acquired a new rectory. Weare Chapel was restored in 1980 under the direction of Howard Tervillian, who was Architect in Residence for the Washington National Cathedral, in Washington, D.C.[2] Another renovation of the church occurred in 1982.

## Architecture[edit]

The 120 by 67 feet (37 by 20 m) structure is generally rectangular in plan.[3] It is influenced by a later phase of Henry Hobson Richardson's design evolution in its more simplified cubic form. Its exterior is clad in rose-colored Sioux Quartzite was laid using in a broken ashlar technique. The broad slate cruciform roof-plan gives the building a monumental feel. The four-story Norman style corner tower rises to a height of 78 feet (24 m). The two-story Weare Chapel projects slightly from the main building on its northeast corner. The interior features a steeply pitched hammer beam birch ceiling, wainscoting, and a large Gothic arch at the chancel opening. The interior is a restored version of its original after the 1922 fire.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. ^ a b c "History of St. Thomas Episcopal Church". St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
3. ^ a b James E. Jacobsen. "St. Thomas Episcopal Church". National Park Service. Retrieved 2018-10-12. with photos
4. ^ Tullis, Nate (June 9, 2002). "Ride to Mapleton wraps up 'historic' weekend". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City. Retrieved 2011-04-13.

## External links[edit]

* Christianity portal

Media related to St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Sioux City, Iowa) at Wikimedia Commons

* St. Thomas’ Web Site

* v
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Episcopal Diocese of Iowa

Bishops|

* Henry Washington Lee
* William Stevens Perry
* Theodore Nevin Morrison
* Harry Sherman Longley
* Elwood Lindsay Haines
* Gordon V. Smith
* Walter Cameron Righter
* C. Christopher Epting
* Alan Scarfe
* Betsey Monnot

Cathedrals|

* Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, Des Moines
* Trinity Cathedral, Davenport

Churches|

* Christ Church, Burlington
* Church of the Saviour, Clermont
* St. John's Church, Dubuque
* St. Paul's Church, Durant
* St. Luke's Church, Fort Madison
* St. Paul's Church, Harlan
* Trinity Church, Iowa City
* St. Matthew's by the Bridge, Iowa Falls
* St. John's Church, Keokuk
* St. George's Church, Le Mars
* Trinity Memorial, Mapleton
* St. Barnabas Church, Montrose
* Trinity Church, Muscatine
* St. Stephen's Church, Newton
* St. James Church, Oskaloosa
* Trinity Church, Ottumwa
* St. Thomas Church, Sioux City
* St. Andrew's Church, Waverly

Former institutions|

* Clarissa Cook Home for the Friendless, Davenport
* St. Katharine's School, Davenport
* St. Luke's Hospital, Davenport

* v
* t
* e

National Register of Historic Places in Woodbury County, Iowa

Correctionville|

* George A. and Mary Tinkel Bailey House

Hornick|

* Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Combination Depot-Hornick

Sergeant Bluff|

* W.L. and Winnie (Woodfield) Belfrage Farmstead Historic District

Sioux City|

* Albertson and Company-Rocklin Manufacturing Company
* Alhambra Apartments
* Atchison A. Ashby House
* Badgerow Building
* Boston Block
* Theophile Bruguier Cabin
* Elzy G. Burkam House
* Charles City College Hall
* Davidson Building
* Dick's Diner
* Evans Block
* Everett School
* H.H. Everist House
* Florence Crittenton Home and Maternity Hospital
* Fourth Street Historic District
* Grandview Park Music Pavilion
* Great Northern Railway Steam Locomotive No. 1355 and Tender 1451
* Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
* Hubbard Park
* Dr. Van Buren Knott House
* Leeds Junior High School
* Lewis System Armored Car and Detective Service Building
* Martin Hotel
* T.S. Martin and Company
* Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery
* Midland Packing Company
* Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District
* Morningside College Historic District
* Motor Mart Building
* Mount Sinai Temple
* Municipal Auditorium
* Mylius-Eaton House
* New Orpheum Theatre
* James P. Newton House and Maid Cottage
* Julius and Anine Oversen House
* John Peirce House
* Rose Hill Historic District
* St. Boniface Historic District
* St. Thomas Episcopal Church
* Arthur and Stella Sanford House
* Ben and Harriet Schulein House
* SERGEANT FLOYD
* Sergeant Floyd Monument
* Simmons Hardware Company Warehouse
* Sioux City Baptist Church
* Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex
* Sioux City Fire Station Number 3
* Sioux City Free Public Library
* Sioux City Linseed Oil Works
* Sioux City Masonic Temple
* Sioux City Public Library (Smith Villa Branch)
* Sioux City Public Library-North Side Branch
* Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Church
* United States Post Office and Courthouse
* Warnock Building
* Warrior Hotel
* Williges Building
* Woodbury County Courthouse

Smithland|

* Benson Archeological Site (13WD50)

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Woodbury County, Iowa and List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa
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