History
St. Paul's had its beginnings on October 15, 1854 when the first service was held at Fort Des Moines for ten communicants. A brick and frame church building was completed in 1857 on Seventh Street between Locust and Walnut Streets. By 1870 the congregation decided to replace its church building and purchased the current site. The present church building was completed in 1885. It was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Foster & Liebbe in the Gothic Revival style. Its basement was not exposed as it is now because Ninth and High Streets were lowered at a later date. Originally the church had a wooden steeple, but it was destroyed in a storm in the 1930s. It was replaced in the 1960s by a structure with a steel core. Later the tower was strengthened when the 25-bell carillon was added. A kitchen was added below the sanctuary in 1939. The Rambush Company redecorated the chancel in the 1940s and the current reredos was added at that time.
Specialties
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul is the liturgical center of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa and a vital metropolitan Christian community. Services are open to members and visitors, and we invite you to worship in this holy place in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Sunday Mass times 8:00 am Low Mass 10:00 am Choral Mass Nursery is available, we encourage the presence and full participation of our children and youth in the life and liturgy of the parish. Christian Education Sunday mornings 9:00 am for Children and Adults Wednesday evenings 6:00 pm Supper, 6:30-7:30 pm Bible study Parking St Paul's has a parking lot, with an entrance on Pleasant Street north of the church, as well as from an alley that runs between High Street and Pleasant. Street parking is also available on Ninth, High, or Pleasant for Sunday services. On weekdays, only the row of spaces adjacent to the church is designated for church parking, and we ask that these spaces be used only for church-related activities. St. Paul's is handicapped accessible: enter by the rear door from the parking lot. The sanctuary is on the main floor. Access to the undercroft (where many Parish festivities are held) is via the elevator, which is located just inside the parking lot door or from the High Street door, where there is a wheelchair ramp.