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First Presbyterian Church
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| Location: | 316 E. Kirkwood Boulevard, Davenport, Iowa |
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| Architect: | Clausen & Burrows |
| Architectural style: | Romanesque |
| Governing body: | Private |
| MPS: | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP Reference#: | 83002431[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | July 7, 1983 |
First Presbyterian Church is located at 316 E. Kirkwood Boulevard, Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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When the city of Davenport was formed in 1836 there were between 10-12 people who were Presbyterian.[2] In the first couple of years they worshiped with other Protestant congregations. In April 1838 they formed their own congregation. They gathered in a small building owned by T.S. Hoge on Ripley Street between Front (present day River Drive) and Second Streets. They managed the best they could with supply ministers who visited from time to time. The group formed themselves into a church on May 5, 1839 in a small frame school house on the corner of Fourth and Harrison Streets. The clergy in attendance at the service that day included Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury of Macomb, Illinois, Rev. M. Hummer of Stephenson (present day Rock Island), Illinois, and the Rev. Enoch Mead of Rockingham, Iowa, which is now the southwest section of Davenport. They were also the supply clergy who visited the congregation occasionally. In 1842 J.M.D. Burrows and T.S. Hoge were chosen and ordained elders of the church. [2]
Rev. Samuel Cleland had charge of the Davenport and Stephenson congregations for four years starting in 1843. At this time they built their first church in Davenport even though the congregation was still very small. In 1846 the congregation only numbered 17.[2] From 1847-49 the congregation was irregularly served by a pastor. Stability for the congregation came in November, 1849 when the Rev. J.D. Mason became the pastor. At this time the church consisted of about 30 members. By 1857 the congregation had grown to 200.
The congregation built another church building in 1853 on Third Street between Harrison and Main Streets. In 1864 they sold that property and purchased the former St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Brady Street. This building served the congregation for over thirty years when the decision was made to build a new church closer to the center of the parish. The ground was broken for the new church at the corner of Kirkwood Boulevard and Iowa Street on March 18, 1898. The church's cornerstone was laid the same year on July 20, and the new church was dedicated on December 17, 1899.[3] The old church became the Academy of Sciences, a forerunner of the Putnam Museum
The new church was designed by Gottschalk & Beadle of Galesburg Illinois. This firm also designed a church on the main square of Galesburg of the same style, but of a different color rough-faced stone. (The first two sentences of this paragraph were edited by John Gere 12-13-2011 - Mr. Gere is a member of the church and a Davenport Architect. The church records show the Architect of record to be as the edited version reads). The building is constructed of Marquette brown stone and has a magnesian stain. The architectural style is Romanesque with a tower in the Richardsonian style. There are carved oak leaves and foliage on the gables in the Renaissance style. The interior is octagonal in shape and the ceiling is marked with a Maltese cross and a Greek cross.[3]
The congregation continued to grow. By 1935 it numbered 1,300 people and was one of the largest congregations in the city.[4]
Other congregations sprung up in the city including First Associate Reformed Presbyterian in 1856. They changed their name to United four years later, and then McClellan Heights in 1907 and finally St. Andrew's in 1960. The congregation disbanded in 2008.[5] Newcomb was organized by the YMCA in 1869 in the northwest part of the city. It became a mission of First Presbyterian between 1883 and 1916.[4] Renwick Chapel was established in 1876. It had a succession of names including: College Avenue Presbyterian, Second Presbyterian and Mt. Ida Presbyterian. It no longer exists. West Park Presbyterian was founded in the mid 20th century on the Westside of the city. It changed its name to New Hope in the first decade of the 21st century.
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