Iowa is filled with beautiful, historic churches, from wayside chapels to massive cathedrals. But perhaps the most beautiful, most historic church in the state is found in Dubuque.
St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Dubuque, Iowa holds the distinction of being Iowa's very first church.
Of course, the building that now presides over Main Street isn't the same one that the first congregation gathered in way back in 1834. But it's the same core church, several generations (and reincarnations) later.
And if "first church in Iowa" wasn't enough of a distinction, the minute you step inside St. Luke's, you'll realize another thing that sets this church apart from most, if not all, the other church buildings in Iowa.
It's the stained glass window collection.
A hundred or so stained glass windows adorn the building, filtering all colors of light into the sanctuary.
Each window is an intricate work of art that you could spend hours examining, and if you are an expert in such things, you might even recognize the artist.
That's right, hidden away in Dubuque, in Iowa's very first church, are dozens and dozens of authentic Tiffany stained glass windows.
From Biblical scenes to floral patterns, each window has a story to tell.
And if you come at the right time, you'll find a church volunteer eager to tell it.
Tiffany Window Tours are offered a few mornings a week here at St. Luke's; if you miss the tour, you can still take a self-guided walk through the church building or watch a video tour on the church website.
All tours are free-of-charge, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Find current tour hours and options at St. Luke's website here. Have you ever visited this beautiful, historic building and perused its Tiffany window collection with your own two eyes? How about this church, which is also one of the prettiest in Iowa?
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