Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Pocahontas, Iowa)

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	16 2nd Ave., NW, Pocahontas, Iowa
Coordinates	42°44′5″N 94°40′15″W / 42.73472°N 94.67083°WCoordinates: 42°44′5″N 94°40′15″W / 42.73472°N 94.67083°W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1882
Architect	Will Hubel
Architectural style	Italianate, Greek Revival
NRHP Reference #	94000086[1]
Added to NRHP	March 1, 1994

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a former parish of the Diocese of Sioux City. The church is located in Pocahontas, Iowa, United States, at 16 2nd Ave., NW. The parish served the Bohemian community that lived in the Pocahontas area. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

The first Catholic Mass in Pocahontas was celebrated in 1875 by the Rev. T.M. Lenahan from Fort Dodge. The liturgies were celebrated irregularly in a schoolhouse until 1881. That year the Rev. Mathew Norton started celebrating Mass once a month.

In 1882 Warrich Price donated three acres of land east of town for a church and cemetery. Will Hubbel designed the building and directed the construction. The church measured 32 by 40 feet and was built for $2,000.^[2] The altar was built by Charles Andera of Spillville. Mary Payer donated the altar as well as a picture of St. Peter and St. Paul that was painted in Bohemia. The bells for the church, named Agnes and Joseph, were brought from St. Louis, Missouri.The first resident pastor, the Rev. J.P. Bronz, served the parish from 1891-1895. The rectory was built at this time. In 1894 the church building was moved to its current location and extended by 30 feet. The church was enlarged again and remodeled in 1895 at a cost of $1,800.^[2] In 1901 the parish became a Bohemian national parish to serve that immigrant community.

Renovations were made to the church in 1957 which included new floors, pews, altar and communion rail. It was redecorated in 1964 and changes were made a couple years later which reflected the liturgical changes inspired by the Second Vatican Council. The altar was changed so the priest could face the congregation.

By 1973 Pocahontas no longer needed two parishes, let alone a national parish for Bohemians. Bishop Frank H. Greteman merged both Saints Peter and Paul and Sacred Heart in Pocahontas into one parish named Resurrection of Our Lord. Both churches were used for liturgy until a new church could be built. Saints Peter and Paul Church was permanently closed in 1983. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The last Mass in the church was held in 1997.

References

1. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. "Our History". www.sspeterandpaul-pocahontas.org. Retrieved 2010-08-08.

External links

• Saints Peter and Paul’s Web Site
• Archiplanet Listing