St. Ambrose Cathedral (Des Moines)
| St. Ambrose Cathedral | |
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| Location | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Founded | 1856 (parish) |
| Dedication | Ambrose of Milan |
| Dedicated | October 11, 1891 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | James J. Egan |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1890 |
| Completed | 1891 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 185 feet (56 m) |
| Width | 102 feet (31 m) |
| Number of spires | One |
| Materials | Bedford stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Des Moines |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Most Rev. Richard Pates |
| Rector | Rev. John Bertogli |
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St. Ambrose Cathedral and Rectory
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| Location | 607 High Street Des Moines, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41°35′19″N 93°37′32″W / 41.58861°N 93.62556°WCoordinates: 41°35′19″N 93°37′32″W / 41.58861°N 93.62556°W |
| Area | 1.25 acres (0.51 ha) |
| Built | 1927 (rectory) |
| NRHP Reference # | 79000927 |
| Added to NRHP | March 30, 1979 |
St. Ambrose Cathedral is an historical church located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It serves as a parish church and as the seat of the Diocese of Des Moines in the Catholic Church. The cathedral, along with the adjoining rectory, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The first Mass in what would become the city of Des Moines was celebrated in a log hut in 1851 at Fort Des Moines by Father Alexander Hattenberger, a priest from Ottumwa, Iowa. At the time, Des Moines was part of the Diocese of Dubuque, which covered the entire state of Iowa. Other priests visited the Des Moines area from time to time, including: the Revs. Timothy Mullen, John Kreckel and Louis De Cailly. In 1856, one year after the Iowa Legislature voted to move the capitol from Iowa City to its present location in Des Moines, the first St. Ambrose Church was built on land purchased by Father De Cailly. The church was built by the Rev. George Plathe, who was the first resident priest in Des Moines. It measured 40 feet (12 m) by 24 feet (7 m). The Rev. John F. Brazil became pastor in 1861, and he built a school in 1863.
St. Ambrose remained Des Moines' only Catholic church until 1869 when the Rev. Nicholas Sassel established St. Mary's to serve the pastoral needs of the city's German community. Des Moines became a part of the Diocese of Davenport when it was established in 1881.
Father Brazil started construction of the present church in 1890 and it was completed by the Rev. Michael Flavin in 1891. Bishop Henry Cosgrove dedicated the church on October 11 of the same year. James J. Egan of Chicago was the architect. He designed Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport at the same time. St. Ambrose Church was chosen to be the cathedral of the Diocese of Des Moines when it was established by Pope Pius X on August 12, 1911. The present rectory was built next to the church in 1927.
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