Palmyra Methodist Episcopal Church, Palmyra Iowa
The church, standing near the Palmyra country school, has been an educative force since it was first organized October 29th, 1853; one of the oldest churches in this area. In 1869 a great religious revival swept the township. Needing more room, the present 1870 building was erected to seat 500 persons, making it one of the largest congregations in Warren County at that time.
The social and humanitarian values of this church are cited as extremely important to this community by older citizens, especially. The church served as a meeting ground for community ideas.
The Palmyra Church congregation dates to 1853, and the present structure to 1867-70; these dates represent the earliest Methodist congregation in Warren County and the oldest religious structure in Warren County. Further, the church served as the social and cultural center of this area of Warren County, providing an important focal point for not only religious activities, but educational and political activities as well. This church structure served as a major center for a rural area of Warren County until at least 1918
The Palmyra Church demonstrates through the detailing of the round-headed windows, the oculus in the steeple, the beautiful entrance, and the polished proportions of the structure that this church is more than carpenter vernacular. The presence of such classifying detailing on the windows and oculus points to an architect or master builder well-versed in not only the architectural manuals of the contemporary vernacular Gothic styles, but also older Eastern United States or English traditions.
Building Description
Palmyra M.E. Church was built between 1867 and 1870. It is situated in a rural area with some 20 houses nearby which are the remains of the town of Palmyra.
The church is of wood frame construction on a limestone foundation. The front-gable structure consists of one room, and is 38' wide and 58' long, with a 12' square narthex in the base of the 35' bell tower centered on the main facade.
The nave is divided into five bays by tall round-arched 9/9 wooden windows in plain surrounds. The three-bay symmetrical front features similar windows, flanking the bell tower, and illuminating the narthex. The entrance portal has a pair of wooden doors beneath a fanlight. Above the entrance is an oculus window, set about halfway between the doorway and one of three round-arched louvred openings in the bell chamber. The tower is capped by a pointed roof, flared at the eaves. A narrow band of vertical tongue-in-groove boards form a "frieze" beneath the eaves.
The roof is covered with a composition shingle (originally wood). There are two brick chimneys, one on each side, toward the front of the nave. The narrow cornice is bracketed on the front elevation, and there are narrow corner boards ending in simple "cornices" on the front corners of the church.
The interior was originally one room, with a center aisle, oak flooring, and wainscoting below papered plaster walls. In 1949, partitions were erected along the west side to form four cubicles, and the ceiling was lowered.
The present character of the bell tower dates from 1914. In its original form, this feature was capped by a shallow, hipped roof and the bell chamber was set off from the base of the tower by a small, flared pent roof. Originally, there was a tall, round-arched window above the entry, with the oculus above, near the pent roof.
The church has not been used for some years, and the land is now held by the township trustees. Local sentiment is divided between wishing to preserve the church in some way, and having it removed.
Palmyra Church (1900)
Long distance view from southwest (1978)
South facade (1978)
North elevation (1978)
