History of St. Peter's Catholic Church
St. Peter Catholic Church was first built in 1861 in Windham, IA - a few miles south of it's current location in Cosgrove. From 1840 to 1890, Windham was a thriving Mission attended by Iowa City priests. In 1861, the first church was erected in Windham and was named “St. Peter” in honor of Father Peter Sullivan. There were about 25 families who attended St. Peter Church. A hillside north of the church was selected for the cemetery. The last known burial there was in 1918. The Catholic settlement flourished and by 1878, there were 71 families. Father James Davis, who later became the Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, was the first resident pastor of Windham.
By the fall of 1893, the congregation had become too large for the space at Windham Church. Since most of the parishioners lived north of Windham and Cosgrove, it was decided to relocate to Cosgrove and build a new church. The church was still called St. Peter and the town was named Cosgrove for Bishop Cosgrove. A rectory and out buildings were also erected. Land for the new cemetery was donated and the first burial was in May of 1893. In time, the old church building at Windham collapsed and the rectory was sold.
The people of St. Peter parish, wanting a religious education for their children, built St. Peter school in 1901. The first floor had two classrooms, the cloakroom, front hall & stairway. The upstairs was a large room with a stage at the south end. This room was used for programs, dances & basketball games, among other events. In 1903, St. Angela Convent was built & the first three nuns from the Sisters of Humility in Ottumwa came to Cosgrove. 1907 was the first high school graduation.
In 1912, the congregation had become too large for the church and plans were made to enlarge the structure. The sanctuary was cut away from the body of the church and moved south with the aid of a powerful winch, providing space for ten more pews. The new space can be identified by the two stained glass windows farthest south on each side of the church, as their design is different than the windows in the original church. Attendance at the school also continued to increase, and in 1913, a new St. Peter School was built. In 1920, by a vote of the parish, it was decided to sell the school to the State, but the nuns were hired to teach.
In the summer of 1935, St. Peter Church was remodeled. The mural of the Garden of Gethsemane was painted over the altar and pictures were painted in each alcove. During Father Francis Kelley’s tenure (in 1941), the hall was renovated into a one-story building with a basement equipped with kitchen facilities and restrooms.
In 1953, laws were passed prohibiting Religion from being taught in the public school systems and in 1955 St. Peter’s saw the last school years of the Sisters of Humility.
A complete remodeling of the church was done in 1967 with new altars, pews, carpeting, & paneling on the altar & new Stations. The current rectory was built in 1968. On Sept. 25, 1977, the new hall was officially dedicated & named after Father Waldschmidt. The hall was used for religious education classes, showers, wedding receptions, meetings, Pork Day Dinner & various other occasions. In 1987, a cry room was added to the back of the Church. And in 1999, St. Peter Church was recarpeted, the kneelers were removed, and the Stations were all repainted.
We celebrated our 150th Anniversary on August 7, 2011. In 2016, the new Waldschmidt Hall was dedicated by Bishop Amos. There are currently over 175 families who are members of St. Peter Catholic Church of Cosgrove, Iowa.
In 2018, new stain glass windows were installed in the church and the foundation project was completed in 2019 along with major repairs to the bell system. The Rectory was converted back to a home for Father Cloos and the basement was remodeled for new religious education classes.
St. Peter Catholic Church was first built in 1861 in Windham, IA - a few miles south of it's current location in Cosgrove. From 1840 to 1890, Windham was a thriving Mission attended by Iowa City priests. In 1861, the first church was erected in Windham and was named “St. Peter” in honor of Father Peter Sullivan. There were about 25 families who attended St. Peter Church. A hillside north of the church was selected for the cemetery. The last known burial there was in 1918. The Catholic settlement flourished and by 1878, there were 71 families. Father James Davis, who later became the Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, was the first resident pastor of Windham.
By the fall of 1893, the congregation had become too large for the space at Windham Church. Since most of the parishioners lived north of Windham and Cosgrove, it was decided to relocate to Cosgrove and build a new church. The church was still called St. Peter and the town was named Cosgrove for Bishop Cosgrove. A rectory and out buildings were also erected. Land for the new cemetery was donated and the first burial was in May of 1893. In time, the old church building at Windham collapsed and the rectory was sold.
The people of St. Peter parish, wanting a religious education for their children, built St. Peter school in 1901. The first floor had two classrooms, the cloakroom, front hall & stairway. The upstairs was a large room with a stage at the south end. This room was used for programs, dances & basketball games, among other events. In 1903, St. Angela Convent was built & the first three nuns from the Sisters of Humility in Ottumwa came to Cosgrove. 1907 was the first high school graduation.
In 1912, the congregation had become too large for the church and plans were made to enlarge the structure. The sanctuary was cut away from the body of the church and moved south with the aid of a powerful winch, providing space for ten more pews. The new space can be identified by the two stained glass windows farthest south on each side of the church, as their design is different than the windows in the original church. Attendance at the school also continued to increase, and in 1913, a new St. Peter School was built. In 1920, by a vote of the parish, it was decided to sell the school to the State, but the nuns were hired to teach.
In the summer of 1935, St. Peter Church was remodeled. The mural of the Garden of Gethsemane was painted over the altar and pictures were painted in each alcove. During Father Francis Kelley’s tenure (in 1941), the hall was renovated into a one-story building with a basement equipped with kitchen facilities and restrooms.
In 1953, laws were passed prohibiting Religion from being taught in the public school systems and in 1955 St. Peter’s saw the last school years of the Sisters of Humility.
A complete remodeling of the church was done in 1967 with new altars, pews, carpeting, & paneling on the altar & new Stations. The current rectory was built in 1968. On Sept. 25, 1977, the new hall was officially dedicated & named after Father Waldschmidt. The hall was used for religious education classes, showers, wedding receptions, meetings, Pork Day Dinner & various other occasions. In 1987, a cry room was added to the back of the Church. And in 1999, St. Peter Church was recarpeted, the kneelers were removed, and the Stations were all repainted.
We celebrated our 150th Anniversary on August 7, 2011. In 2016, the new Waldschmidt Hall was dedicated by Bishop Amos. There are currently over 175 families who are members of St. Peter Catholic Church of Cosgrove, Iowa.
In 2018, new stain glass windows were installed in the church and the foundation project was completed in 2019 along with major repairs to the bell system. The Rectory was converted back to a home for Father Cloos and the basement was remodeled for new religious education classes.