Parish History from 1837 to Today
The story of St. Anthony Church began with the Blackhawk Purchase of 1832 following the Blackhawk War. The treaty and subsequent purchase opened the area north and west of the Mississippi River.
Antoine LeClaire served as interpreter during the treaty negotiations between the U.S. Government and the Native Americans. In appreciation the Native Americans gave him two parcels of land, one of which became the City of Davenport, Iowa. In 1837 LeClaire donated one block, called Church Square, to Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, an Italian Dominican missionary. The original St. Anthony Church was built near the center of this square before the end of the year. It was built as a school and was used as a temporary church. This was a simple, 25 by 40 foot. two story, three room building constructed of bricks manufactured in Davenport. The top floor served as the church. One of the two ground floor rooms provided living quarters for the first pastor, Fr. John Pelamourges, and the other served as the courtroom for the Second Judicial District and town meeting hall. Fr. Pelamourges became the bell ringer for the town hall meetings.
School Opened in 1844
In 1844 the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) arrived to teach at St. Anthony's School. That year the building was extended to the east by 35 feet. The entrance wing was added later. In the late 1940's a north wing and kitchen facilities were added.
The manufactured stone facing was applied in 1949. St. Anthony School closed in 1968. It is now used as a library and classrooms for the parishes large and active religious education program.
New Church Construction Begun
In 1850 a new stone church, 84 by 44 feet, was begun to the south of the original building. It was completed in 1853. The church remained a simple rectangle until 1885 when two wings, with balconies, were added to the north and south. At the same time the east wall was extended by 18 feet to provide more sanctuary and sacristy room. The addition completed in the late 1940's increased sacristy space to the east of the south wing of the church. At the same time, a new terrazzo floor was laid and the confessionals moved to the current locations near the main entrance.
The main altar is upheld by six columns of simulated marble, three on either side of a tablet on which is a bas-relief representation of "The Last Supper". Above the altar, in the central alcove, is a statue of the Sacred Heart. On the left is a statue of St. Augustine and on the right, St. John The Evangelist. In the surmounting arch the central figure, "Ecce Homo" (Behold the Man) depicts Our Lord about to be crucified, with adoring angels on either side.
Ceiling painting over the center aisle depict, from entrance to altar: (a) Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead or raising the daughter of Nairn, (b) Assumption of Mary into Heaven, and (c) Jesus healing the sick. Directly in the middle of the transept are four symbols representing the writers of the gospels.
Stained glass windows installed in the 1850's, 1880's and 1940's were donated by individual church patrons or families. The four stained glass windows in the apse surrounding the altar are, from left to right: St. Patrick, St. Anthony, The Assumption of Mary, and St. Aloysius. While these require artificial lighting the other windows can best be seen by natural light on clear days in the late morning or early afternoon.
The historic church houses a wealth of statuary. Each saint represented throughout the church is identified with a brass plaque.
Outside the church the original bell is enclosed below the copper sculpture in front and just to the north of the main entrance. This sculpture, commissioned for the 1987 Sesquicentennial Celebration, includes a child representing those who attended the school, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chief Blackhawk, Father Mazzuchelli, Col. George Davenport and, seated, Antoine LeClaire.
The retaining wall separating the Rock Island Railroad tracks from the northern end of the parking lot has been decorated with Boston Ivy and a replica of the sign hanging over the entrance to Wrigley Field. This was done by the Rev. James Conroy, pastor form 1987 through 1997, a Chicago native and diehard Cubs fan.
Serving the Poor
In 1985, then pastor Fr. Kenneth Martin, in honor of St. Anthony, patron saint of the poor, began the "Care and Share" program which set aside funds from the weekly parish collection to aid the poor and needy. To facilitate distribution of the food, Father Conroy opened what became known as the McAnthony Window at the rear of the rectory. The McAnthony Window has expanded greatly in the last six years. Today we serve a hot meal, operate a food pantry and clothing window. We provide bus tokens. Our ministry of presence volunteers sit with and encourage our patrons as they eat their meal. In 2022, we served 28,101 meals, fed 54,000 through the food pantry, gave out almost 25,000 bus tokens and distributed thousands and thousands of clothing, blankets, and toiletries. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have kept our tradition alive of helping people with their holiday meals. We provide $20 meat gift vouchers to Hyvee, one for Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas. Through the daily food pantry we provide the rest of the traditional holiday fixings.
School Opened in 1844
In 1844 the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) arrived to teach at St. Anthony's School. That year the building was extended to the east by 35 feet. The entrance wing was added later. In the late 1940's a north wing and kitchen facilities were added.
The manufactured stone facing was applied in 1949. St. Anthony School closed in 1968. It is now used as a library and classrooms for the parishes large and active religious education program.
New Church Construction Begun
In 1850 a new stone church, 84 by 44 feet, was begun to the south of the original building. It was completed in 1853. The church remained a simple rectangle until 1885 when two wings, with balconies, were added to the north and south. At the same time the east wall was extended by 18 feet to provide more sanctuary and sacristy room. The addition completed in the late 1940's increased sacristy space to the east of the south wing of the church. At the same time, a new terrazzo floor was laid and the confessionals moved to the current locations near the main entrance.
The main altar is upheld by six columns of simulated marble, three on either side of a tablet on which is a bas-relief representation of "The Last Supper". Above the altar, in the central alcove, is a statue of the Sacred Heart. On the left is a statue of St. Augustine and on the right, St. John The Evangelist. In the surmounting arch the central figure, "Ecce Homo" (Behold the Man) depicts Our Lord about to be crucified, with adoring angels on either side.
Ceiling painting over the center aisle depict, from entrance to altar: (a) Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead or raising the daughter of Nairn, (b) Assumption of Mary into Heaven, and (c) Jesus healing the sick. Directly in the middle of the transept are four symbols representing the writers of the gospels.
Stained glass windows installed in the 1850's, 1880's and 1940's were donated by individual church patrons or families. The four stained glass windows in the apse surrounding the altar are, from left to right: St. Patrick, St. Anthony, The Assumption of Mary, and St. Aloysius. While these require artificial lighting the other windows can best be seen by natural light on clear days in the late morning or early afternoon.
The historic church houses a wealth of statuary. Each saint represented throughout the church is identified with a brass plaque.
Outside the church the original bell is enclosed below the copper sculpture in front and just to the north of the main entrance. This sculpture, commissioned for the 1987 Sesquicentennial Celebration, includes a child representing those who attended the school, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chief Blackhawk, Father Mazzuchelli, Col. George Davenport and, seated, Antoine LeClaire.
The retaining wall separating the Rock Island Railroad tracks from the northern end of the parking lot has been decorated with Boston Ivy and a replica of the sign hanging over the entrance to Wrigley Field. This was done by the Rev. James Conroy, pastor form 1987 through 1997, a Chicago native and diehard Cubs fan.
Serving the Poor
In 1985, then pastor Fr. Kenneth Martin, in honor of St. Anthony, patron saint of the poor, began the "Care and Share" program which set aside funds from the weekly parish collection to aid the poor and needy. To facilitate distribution of the food, Father Conroy opened what became known as the McAnthony Window at the rear of the rectory. The McAnthony Window has expanded greatly in the last six years. Today we serve a hot meal, operate a food pantry and clothing window. We provide bus tokens. Our ministry of presence volunteers sit with and encourage our patrons as they eat their meal. In 2022, we served 28,101 meals, fed 54,000 through the food pantry, gave out almost 25,000 bus tokens and distributed thousands and thousands of clothing, blankets, and toiletries. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have kept our tradition alive of helping people with their holiday meals. We provide $20 meat gift vouchers to Hyvee, one for Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas. Through the daily food pantry we provide the rest of the traditional holiday fixings.