St. Augustin Catholic Church (Des Moines, Iowa)

St. Augustin Roman Catholic Church
Location 545 42nd St.
Des Moines, Iowa
Coordinates 41°35′06.6″N 93°40′25.2″W / 41.585167°N 93.673667°W / 41.585167; -93.673667Coordinates: 41°35′06.6″N 93°40′25.2″W / 41.585167°N 93.673667°W / 41.585167; -93.673667
Built 1922-1924
Architect Maginnis & Walsh
Architectural style Gothic Revival
Part of Greenwood Park Plats Historic District (#13000068[1])
Added to NRHP April 24, 2013

St. Augustin Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Des Moines located on the west side of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was included as a contributing property in the Greenwood Park Plats Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.[2]

History

The parish began when 12 parishioners from St. Ambrose Cathedral petitioned Bishop Thomas W. Drumm for a new west side parish in 1920. He assigned the Rev. John Noonan as the founding pastor, and a part of the former Iowa State Fairgrounds property on Grand Avenue was acquired for $20,000.[3] The prominent Boston architectural firm Maginnis & Walsh, who were known for their ecceciastical work, designed the new parish church. It was built for about for $100,000,[2] and it was dedicated on February 3, 1924.

A parish school was established and a seven-room school building was completed in 1926 further west on Grand Avenue. The school was staffed by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. The rectory was added to the church in 1928. A new school building was completed during the pastorate of Msgr. Gerald Walker (1948-1981). The parking lot was enlarged in 1951 when the city discontinued street parking,[2] and a residence at 4111 Grand Avenue was removed around this time. The church complex was enlarged in 1985, 1989, and in 1998. The parking lot and the school building was expanded during the pastorate of Msgr. Frank Bognanno (1990-2000).

Architecture

The church is English Gothic in style, and it is dominated by a large square tower located at the crossing. The tower is similar in design to the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ immediately to the north.[2] The church complex is a brick structure with Bedford stone trim, and a red flat-tile roof. The stained glass windows are the work of Charles Jay Connick of Boston.[3]

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 James E. Jacobsen. "Greenwood Park Plats Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  3. 1 2 "Parish History". St. Augustin Church. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
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