"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."- St. Augustin
On July 4th, 1920, 12 parishoners of St. Ambrose Cathedral petitioned Bishop T.W. Drumm to establish a new parish on the west side of Des Moines. Rev. John Noonan was appointed the church's first pastor, articles of incorporation were filed, and part of the old Iowa State fairgrounds at 42nd Street and Grand Avenue was purchased for $20,000. Designed by Boston architect Charles Maginnis, whose works included the high altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, St. Augustin Chruch was formally dedicated on February 3, 1924. Its stained glass windows were created by Boston artist Charles Connick and are documented in the book "Art of Prayer." A seven-room school was constructed at 4320 Grand Ave. in 1926 and staffed by Adrian Dominican Sisters.
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