St. Stephens Church

Description:	Drawing of the first St. Stephens Church by Juliet A. Peddle, Terre Haute Architect and Artist. ORIGINAL ST. STEPHENS CHURCH. PICTURE DRAWN BY JULIET B. PEDDLE, TERRE HAUTE ARTIST AND ARCHITECT.The original St. Stephens church stood on the west side of North Fifth Street between Cherry and Wabash just north of the alley.The first record of services being held here as noted in the Journal of Bishop Kemper is in 1839. The local church records say that Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Krumbhaar and Mrs. Danaldson called on the bishop, who was stopping at the Prairie House, and requested him to stay over and hold services for the Episcopalians in the community, Mrs. Blake offering her house for the services (the Blakes were occupying the Linton House at that time).The bishop sent a Mr. Prindle in November of that year to serve the congregation and they met in such places as the courthouse and the town hall until they were able to build a church.By 1845 they felt ready to build their church, which was completed and dedicated that year. This building was occupied by them until 1862 when they moved to the new church which had been erected at the corner of Seventh and Eagle streets. In later years the original building became a little theater where the Germans of the city had entertainments. Following that it became the Adelphia theater, and some years later was moved to the rear of the property to make way for new buildings on the front part of the lot.The panel over the door contained the following inscription, The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of Living Truth.The above illustration is based on the drawing on the border of the map of 1854 and shows the church as it was at that time. It has interested me to note that, though the building follows the simple classical lines of the smaller early churches of the day, it has Gothic windows. The cornice is still classical, but the approaching Gothic revival is apparent in the pointed windows and the simple tracery in them.This is the earliest example of Gothic detail that I have discovered in this community to date.
Origin:	01/01/2005
Contributor(s):	Peddle, Juliet, 1899-1979
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/rose/id/820
Collection:	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Logan Library
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Architectural drawings Architecture Churches Episcopal churches Theaters Architecture Religion Social Life

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