Episcopal Church of the Saviour (Clermont, Iowa)

United States historic place


Church of the Saviour Episcopal Church and David Henderson Statue
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


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Location	Junction of Mill and Thompson, Clermont, Iowa
Coordinates	43°0′10″N 91°39′14″W / 43.00278°N 91.65389°W / 43.00278; -91.65389
Built	1867
Architect	John Massey Rhind
Architectural style	Romanesque
NRHP reference No.	00001196
Added to NRHP	October 30, 2000

The Episcopal Church of the Saviour, also known as Memorial Episcopal Church, is a parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. The church is located in Clermont, Iowa, United States. The church building, along with the statue of David Henderson, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Church of the Saviour

The parish was established as the Free Episcopal Mission Church in 1866. The church was built ten years later and it was consecrated by Bishop Henry Washington Lee on December 16, 1870. It is one of three Episcopal churches that were built as a memorial to the two children of Frances Dyer Vinton of Providence, Rhode Island. The other two churches were built in Providence, and in San Gabriel, California. She had been inspired by the Biblical passage "Thy praise shall ring from shore to shore," to build a church in the east, west, and in middle of the country. They were all named "Church of the Saviour." Clermont was chosen because of Vinton's association with Dr. William Lewis who was serving as a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War when they met. The Lewis home was bequeathed to the church for use as a rectory. The church in Providence closed in 1950 and has been torn down and the church in San Gabriel has been significantly altered over the years.

Architecture

The church building was built of Iowa limestone that was quarried from the Williams Quarry east of Clermont. The architect is unknown, but the stone masonry reflects the work of a master builder. It is a combination of the Romanesque and Italian Villa styles that reflect the romantic and picturesque qualities of mid-19th century architecture. The church building features a three-story tower, bracted eaves, and attached round arch windows. In 1930 a slate roof replaced the cedar shingles that had been put on in 1903. The interior features a barrel-vaulted ceiling, beaded wainscoting, and varnished hardwood pews. The altar and cross were given to the church from the Trinity Church Guild of Middletown, Connecticut. It was given in recognition of the work of Mrs. William Larrabee, Jr., a daughter-in-law of former governor of Iowa William Larrabee.

David Henderson Statue

David B. Henderson was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1882 to 1902. He represented the people of Iowa's 3rd congressional district. From 1899 to 1903 he served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Henderson was the first Speaker of the House west of the Mississippi. Iowa Governor William Larrabee had the statue made and presented to the city of Clermont in his honor. It was designed by New York City sculpture John Massey Rhind, and cast by the Henry Bonnard Bronze Company of New York. The bronze statue stands 7.5 feet (2.3 m) tall on its original granite pedestal. The statue was initially located in the center of Mill Street, and it was dedicated June 19–20, 1903 during a reunion of the 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment to which Henderson had belonged. The statue was relocated to the church yard in 1937, which compromises its historical integrity. However, it remains an important work of art by a significant 19th-century Scottish-American artist.

References

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ "About Us". Church of the Saviour. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
^ Robert C. Vogel. "Church of the Saviour Episcopal Church and David Henderson Statue". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-09-18. with photos
"History". Clermont, Iowa. Archived from the original on 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2011-03-15.

External links

Church Web site

v t e 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 Fayette County, Iowa
Arlington	August Nus Polygonal Barn
Clermont	Abraham Lincoln Statue and Park Bigler Building Church of the Saviour Episcopal Church and David Henderson Statue Clermont Public School Montauk Union Sunday School
Eldorado	Eldorado Bridge The Elgin Block Mill Race Bridge
Fayette	Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company Depot College Hall Twin Bridge
Maynard	Maynard Town Hall and Jail
Oelwein	Alfred Hanson House Hotel Mealey Otter Creek Bridge Stoe Creek Bridge
St. Lucas	St. Luke's School and Recreation Center
Sumner	Sumner Bridge
Wadena	Hardware Building
West Union	Fayette County Courthouse First Baptist Church of West Union Grimes Octagon Barn Hobson Block Maple View Sanitarium Vine Street Bridge West Auburn Bridge West Union Commercial Historic District
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Fayette County, Iowa and List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa

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