St. Boniface Catholic Church (Westphalia, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Saint Boniface Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Des Moines
. The church is located in Westphalia, Iowa
, United States
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as Saint Boniface Catholic Church District. The historical district includes the church, rectory
, cemetery, school, Our Lady of Grace Shrine, St. Isadore Shrine, baseball
diamond, clubhouse, and First Fruits (corn crib).
The area that is now Westphalia was settled by German Catholics in the 1870s. The community’s founder, Herman Schwarte, envisioned a peaceful village where Germans could work the land, be self-sufficient and help one another. The community would be centered on their own church, and it remains a parish community. The Emil Flusche home was the location of the first Catholic Mass. The home was later moved behind St. Boniface Church.
St. Boniface Church was built from 1881-82. The workers baked their own brick
s to build the church and forged the first of two 2.5 ton bells. Since 1882 the parish has hosted a Fourth of July celebration.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines
The Diocese of Des Moines is the Roman Catholic diocese for the southwestern quarter of the state of Iowa.Dioecesis Desmoinensis is the Latin title of the diocese, and the Diocese of Des Moines is the corporate title of the diocese. The Cathedral parish for the Diocese is St. Ambrose's Cathedral....
. The church is located in Westphalia, Iowa
Westphalia, Iowa
Westphalia is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 160 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Westphalia is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as Saint Boniface Catholic Church District. The historical district includes the church, rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
, cemetery, school, Our Lady of Grace Shrine, St. Isadore Shrine, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
diamond, clubhouse, and First Fruits (corn crib).
The area that is now Westphalia was settled by German Catholics in the 1870s. The community’s founder, Herman Schwarte, envisioned a peaceful village where Germans could work the land, be self-sufficient and help one another. The community would be centered on their own church, and it remains a parish community. The Emil Flusche home was the location of the first Catholic Mass. The home was later moved behind St. Boniface Church.
St. Boniface Church was built from 1881-82. The workers baked their own brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
s to build the church and forged the first of two 2.5 ton bells. Since 1882 the parish has hosted a Fourth of July celebration.