Iowa’s second basilica!
St. Francis Xavier Church
While I was in Des Monies I met the groundskeeper at The Basilica of St. John - he told me if I liked visiting old churches and was going to The Field of Dreams that I also need to check out Iowa’s other basilica!
In 1862, the first Catholic church in Dyersville was built. It was located in the lot immediately south of the current basilica. In 1869 (just seven years) its size had to be doubled to accommodate the increasing number of Catholics moving into the area. By 1880, the Catholic population had again outgrown the enlarged church, and in September 1887, construction on the present Basilica was started. The cornerstone of the church was laid on June 3, 1888, and on December 3, 1889, the new church was dedicated by Bishop Hennessy of Dubuque. In recognition of the architectural attributes of the church and the fervent faith of the congregation, St. Francis Xavier Church was raised to the rank of a minor Basilica in 1956, by special proclamation of His Holiness Pope Pius XII. At that time, St. Francis Xavier was the twelfth church in the country to receive such an honor. Today the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier is one of 53 basilicas in the United States.
Some facts: The height of each spire is 212 feet.
The gold leafed crosses on top of the spires are 6’8” wide and 14’ high.
There are 64 burnt colored cathedral windows in the church.
There are approximately 1,800 families in the parish; a total of around 5,000 parishioners.
Dyersville, Iowa, is widely considered one of the most densely Catholic rural communities in the United States. While the U.S. Census Bureau does not track religious affiliation, independent religious density maps and historical data consistently rank Dubuque County—where Dyersville is located—as one of the most heavily Catholic counties in the nation.
