- Christianity in Omaha, Nebraska
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St. Cecilia Cathedral, which took 54 years, from 1905 to 1959, to be completed and consecrated.
Christianity in Omaha, Nebraska has been integral to the growth and development of the city since its founding in 1854.[1] In addition to providing Christian religious and social leadership, individually and collectively the city's churches have also led a variety of political campaigns throughout the city's history.
Contents
History
The first sermon in Omaha was preached in 1854 by Peter Cooper, an English Methodist who operated a quarry in the city.[2] Almost all of the sixteen attendees lived in neighboring Council Bluffs. Within six months the city had a regular Methodist circuit rider who conducted services at the territorial capitol.
The Omaha Claim Club donated two lots for the congregation to build a church, and soon after Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Episcopalians and Roman Catholics followed. Catholics dedicated St. Philomena's Cathedral in 1856, and the entire Creighton family, including Edward, his wife Mary, and his brother John greatly supported the Catholic Church. Pioneer banker Augustus Kountze called for and financially supported the founding of the first Lutheran church west of the Missouri River, which was then called Immanuel Lutheran Church and was located downtown. It was renamed after Kountze's father in the 1880s.
Episcopalians counted a great deal of political leaders in their ranks through the 1900s.[3] St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church, organized in 1867, was the first church for African Americans in Nebraska.[4]
Edward and Lizzie Robinson founded the first Church of God in Christ congregation in Nebraska in North Omaha in 1916.[5] The distinguished United Methodist Bishop John Louis Nuelsen was assigned to the Omaha Episcopal Area from 1908 through 1912. The Notre Dame Academy and Convent located in the Florence neighborhood was closely affiliated with the Czech community of Omaha from its founding in the 1920s through its closure in the 1970s.[6]
In 1936 a federally-funded survey on religion found that Protestants were the largest religious body in the city, with Lutherans the largest denomination. Roman Catholics from throughout Europe had formed churches throughout South Omaha, including Latvian, Polish, German and Czech congregations.[7] In 1953, Hanscom Park United Methodist Church gained national attention when the pastor formed a psychiatric support group for Methodist ministers.[8] St. Cecilia Cathedral, the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha, is notable for the Spanish Renaissance Revival style design employed during the 54 years it took to build it in the city's Gold Coast Historic District. A 1966 documentary about a church in Omaha called A Time for Burning was nominated for an Academy Award. In 2005 the film was named by the Library of Congress as one of 25 films to be included in the National Film Registry.
Architecture
Several churches in Omaha feature notable architecture. Eleven of the city's churches have been designed as Omaha Landmarks or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Calvin Memorial Presbyterian Church has been noted as, "architecturally significant to Omaha as a fine example of the Neo-Classical Revival Style of architecture."[9] Holy Family Catholic Church is the oldest existing Catholic Church in Omaha.[10] Zion Baptist Church, an early Black church in the city's Near North Side neighborhood, is housed in a building that was designed by noted master architect Clarence W. Wigington.
Present
Churches in Omaha have continued to influence the city in a variety of ways. In the 1960s and 70s Holy Family Catholic Church was regarded as a center of progressive activism. David Rice, of the notorious Rice/Poindexter Case, was a guitar player at the church in the early 1970s. Former United Methodist minister and district superintendent Lowen Kruse as a Nebraska state senator since 2001. In 2007 a group of socially conservative churches protested a proposed speech by author Anne Lamott at the Jesuit Catholic Creighton University. This political pressure caused the University to cancel the popular Presbyterian author's appearance. A coalition of progressive Protestant churches re-invited Lamott to the city and she delivered her talk at the Holland Performing Arts Center instead of Creighton. Lamott was so impressed with this action that she waived all speaking fees. Other churches in the city have been active in Nebraskans for Peace and Habitat for Humanity, which was housed at Pearl Memorial United Methodist Church for several years. Kenneth Vavrina, the priest of St. Richard's Catholic Church, has been an outspoken advocate to calm racial tension in Omaha.[11]
Churches in Omaha
The following is a list of active congregations in Omaha.
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Name Address Denomination Neighborhood Allen Chapel 2842 Monroe Street African Methodist Episcopal St. John's 2402 North 22nd Street African Methodist Episcopal Holy Cross 7545 Main Street Anglican Apostolic Oblates 6762 Western Avenue Apostolic Bethlehem 6910 Maple Street Apostolic Grace 2216 Military Ave Apostolic New Hope 6124 North 99th Street Apostolic Freedom 4224 N 24th Street Assembly of God Glad Tidings 7415 Hickory St Assembly of God Flatland 4801 N 144th St Assembly of God Hope Community 1430 S 14th St Assembly of God New Creation Community 4801 N. 144th Street Assembly of God West - Millard Omaha Christian Center 4215 N 92 Ave Assembly of God Omaha Korean Assembly 5603 Fay Boulevard Assembly of God Pacific Springs 17515 Pacific Street Assembly of God South Side 4815 Harrison Street Assembly of God Templo Canaan Asambleas DeDios 5223 S 20th St Assembly of God Community 8019 N 31st Street Baptist Cross Road 6068 Ames Avenue Baptist Good Shepherd 16909 Pacific Street Baptist Karen Street 6109 Karen Street Baptist Marshall Drive 4845 Marshall Drive Baptist Midwestern 1025 North 72nd Street Baptist Westwood Heights 3343 Pedersen Drive Baptist Assumption 5434 South 22nd Street Catholic Assumption of the B.V.M. (Ukrainian) 2301 South 16th. Street Catholic Blessed Sacrament 3020 Curtis Street Catholic Christ the King 654 South 86th. Street Catholic College of Saint Mary 1901 South 72nd Street Catholic Holy Cross 4803 William Street Catholic Holy Family 1715 Izard Street Catholic Holy Ghost 5219 South 53rd Street Catholic Holy Name 3014 North 45th. Street Catholic Immaculate Conception 2708 South 24th. Street Catholic Mary Our Queen 3405 South 118th. Street Catholic Mother of Perpetual Help 5215 Seward Street Catholic Our Lady of Guadalupe 23rd and O Streets Catholic Our Lady of Lourdes 2110 South 32nd. Avenue Catholic Sacred Heart 2218 Binney Street Catholic Saint Pius the Tenth 6905 Blondo Street Catholic Saints Peter and Paul 5912 South 36th Street Catholic St. Adalbert 2617 South 31st Street Catholic St. Agnes 2215 Q Street Catholic St. Ann 2247 Poppleton Avenue Catholic St. Anthony 5402 South 32nd Street Catholic St. Benedict the Moor 2423 Grant Street Catholic St. Bernadette 7600 South 42nd Street Catholic St. Bernard 3601 North 65th Street Catholic St. Bridget 4112 South 26th Street Catholic St. Cecilia 701 North 40th Street Catholic St. Elizabeth Ann 5419 North 114th Street Catholic St. Frances Cabrini 1335 South 10th Street Catholic St. Francis Assisi 4513 South 32nd Street Catholic St. James Catholic Church 9025 Larimore Avenue Catholic St. Joan of Arc 74th and Vinton Streets Catholic St. John Vianney 5801 Oak Hills Drive Catholic St. John's Parish at Creighton University 2500 California Plaza Catholic St. Joseph 1723 South 17th Street Catholic St. Leo 1920 North 102nd. Street Catholic St. Margaret Mary 6116 Dodge Street Catholic St. Mary 3529 Q Street Catholic St. Mary Magdalene 109 South 19th Street Catholic St. Patrick 1404 Castelar Street Catholic St. Peter 2702 Leavenworth Street Catholic St. Philip Neri 8202 North 30th. Street Catholic St. Richard 4320 Fort Street Catholic St. Robert Bellarmine 11802 Pacific Street Catholic St. Rose 4102 South 13th Street Catholic St. Stanislaus 4002 J Street Catholic St. Stephen the Martyr 16701 S Street Catholic St. Therese of the Child Jesus 5314 North 14th Avenue Catholic St. Thomas More 4804 Grover Street Catholic St. Vincent de Paul 14330 Eagle Run Drive Catholic St. Wenceslaus 15353 Pacific Street Catholic Agape 2512 North 72nd Street Christian Benson 2704 North 58th Street Christian North - Benson Celebration 14227 U Street Christian Celebration 7107 South 161st Street Christian Christ 404 South 108th Avenue Christian Christian Brotherhood 9809 M Street Christian Christian Brotherhood 16735 Spring Circle Christian Christian Discipleship 1823 Lake Street Christian Christian Missionary Alliance 1301 South 119th Street Christian City Church 6051 Maple Street Christian Cleaves Temple 2431 Decatur Street Christian Covenant 3925 North 95th Street Christian Faith 2201 South 132nd Street Christian First 6630 Dodge Street Christian Florence Alliance 8702 North 30th Street Christian North - Florence Florence 7300 Northridge Drive Christian North - Florence Fort Street 5116 Terrace Drive Christian Freedom 4606 North 56th Street Christian Heartland Family 3715 North 104th Avenue Christian Kingsway 1106 South 139th Street Christian Lake Forest 11268 Lake Forest Drive Christian Liberty 5616 L Street Christian Millard 13317 Z Street Christian West - Millard Millard 13445 Cryer Avenue Christian West - Millard Northside Family 4102 Florence Boulevard Christian Omaha Chinese 1920 Robertson Drive Christian Omaha 4215 North 92nd Avenue Christian Pilgrim 2818 North 70th Street Christian Prairie Lane 3111 South 119th Street Christian Russian 11268 Lake Forest Drive Christian Shiloh 1501 North 33rd Street Christian Sonrise 4623 North 54th Circle Christian South Side 4401 South 23rd Street Christian St Mary's Orthodox 10303 Boyd Street Christian Victory 6819 South 167th Street Christian Vineyard 3534 South 108th Street Christian Benson 2704 North 58th Street Church of Christ North - Benson Christ 404 South 108th Avenue Church of Christ Christ Gospel 4233 South 23rd Street Church of Christ Christ Is Lord 7119 Irvington Road Church of Christ Christ Temple 2124 North 26th Street Church of Christ Christ The King 654 South 86th Street Church of Christ Christ's Family 5602 L Street Church of Christ Church Of Christ 5922 Fort Street Church of Christ Church Of Christ 5118 Hartman Avenue Church of Christ Church Of Christ (Southwest Omaha) 2600 South 124th Street Church of Christ Church 4628 Grand Avenue Church of Christ Faith Temple 3049 Curtis Avenue Church of Christ Friends Of Christ Evangelical 3208 Corby Street Church of Christ Jesus Christ 1517 North 30th Street Church of Christ Nebraska Omaha Mission 11930 Arbor Street# 203 Church of Christ New Beginnings In Christ 125 North 34th Street Church of Christ New Life 1712 North 24th Street Church of Christ Sunnyslope 3606 North 108th Street Church of Christ Tabernacle 1521 North 25th Street Church of Christ Transport For Christ 9907 Sapp Brothers Drive Church of Christ Abundant Mercy Pentecostal 910 South 25th Street Church of God Antioch 3654 Miami Street Church of God Assembly Of God - South Side 4815 Harrison Street Church of God Cathedral of Love 2816 Ames Avenue Church of God Church of God in Christ 2025 North 24th Street Church of God Church of God in Christ 4628 Grand Avenue Church of God Parkway 1212 East Browne Street Church of God South Omaha 1707 J Street Church of God State Office 14011 Pierce Street Church of God Church Of The Living God 2029 Binney Street Church of God Church Of The Living God 3805 Bedford Avenue Church of God Faith Temple 3049 Curtis Avenue Church of God Faith Temple 2108 Emmet Street Church of God First 1705 North 96th Street Church of God Freedom Church Assembly 4430 Florence Blvd Church of God Gethsemane 5720 North 24th Street Church of God God's Missionary Baptist 5036 Terrace Drive Church of God God's Missionary Baptist 2502 North 51st Street Church of God Mt Zion 5220 South 31st Street Church of God Mt Zion 6617 North 65th Street Church of God New Bethel 1710 North 25th Street Church of God New Life 1712 North 24th Street Church of God Omaha Korean Assembly 5603 Fay Boulevard Church of God Pacific Springs Assembly 17515 Pacific Street Church of God Power House 2553 Browne Street Church of God Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints 11027 Martha Street LDS Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints 6714 Dodge Street LDS Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints 14680 California Street LDS Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints 5217 North 54th Street LDS Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints 3919 North 53rd Street LDS Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple 8283 North 34th Street LDS All Saints 9302 Blondo Street Episcopal Church of the Resurrection 3004 Belvedere Boulevard Episcopal Holy Family South 138th and Q Streets Episcopal St Andrews 925 South 84th Street Episcopal St Barnabas 129 North 40th Street Episcopal St Luke 600 South 42nd Street Episcopal St Martin of Tours 2324 J Street Episcopal Trinity Cathedral 113 North 18th St Episcopal First Covenant 201 North 90th St Evangelical Brookside 11607 M Cir Evangelical Free Jehovah Shammah Baptist 2537 N 62nd St Full Gospel Christ Community 404 S 108th Ave Interdenominational Trinity Church 15555 West Dodge Road Interdenominational Church Of The Nazarene 8206 Blondo Street Nazarene Southwest Church 14808 Q Street Nazarene American 4140 North 42nd Street Lutheran Atonement 4530 North 85th Street Lutheran - LCMS Augustana 3647 Lafayette Avenue Lutheran Beautifual Savior 9012 Q Street Lutheran - LCMS Bethany 5151 North West Radial Highway Lutheran - LCMS Bethel 1312 South 45th Street Lutheran - ELCA Calvary 2941 North 80th Street Lutheran Christian Family 1867 South 147th Circle Lutheran Cross 2902 South 20th Street Lutheran - LCMS Deaf Bethlehem 5074 Lake Street Lutheran Divine Shepherd 15005 Q Street Lutheran - LCMS First 542 South 31st Street Lutheran - ELCA Garden-Gethsemane Evangelical 4543 Camden Avenue Lutheran - WES Gethsemane 4040 North 108th Street Lutheran - WES Good Shepherd 5071 Center Street Lutheran - WES Grace 1326 South 26th Street Lutheran - ELCA Holy Cross 4117 Terrace Drive Lutheran - ELCA Hope 2721 North 30th Street Lutheran Immanuel 2725 North 60th Avenue Lutheran - ELCA King Of Kings 11615 I Street Lutheran - LCMS Kountze Memorial 2650 Farnam Street Lutheran Latvian Evangelical 4523 South 22nd Street Lutheran Living Hope 4823 South 168th Street Lutheran - WES Lord Of Love 10405 Fort Plaza Lutheran - ELCA Luther Memorial 1031 Sunset Trail Lutheran Lutheran Church Of The Master East site 2617 South 114th Street Lutheran Lutheran Church Of The Master West site 1200 N. 181st Court Lutheran 4205 Boyd Street Lutheran Lutheran Pantry 4205 Boyd Street Lutheran Mission Lutherana Cristo Rey 4440 South 25th Street Lutheran Morning Star 331 South 85th Avenue Lutheran Mount Calvary 5529 Leavenworth Street Lutheran - LCMS Mount Olive 7301 North 28th Avenue Lutheran - LCMS Nebraska Synod-Bishops Office 4980 South 118th Street Lutheran Northside Community 1511 North 20th Street Lutheran Our Redeemer 4757 North 24th Street Lutheran Pacific Hills 1110 South 90th Street Lutheran - LCMS Peace 4001 Q Street Lutheran Pella 303 South 41st Street Lutheran - ELCA Midtown Rejoice 2556 South 138th Street Lutheran - ELCA Shepherd Of The Hills 6201 North 60th Street Lutheran St Johns 11120 Calhoun Road Lutheran St Luke's 2315 I Street Lutheran St Mark 1821 North 90th Street Lutheran St Matthew Evangelical 1725 South 60th Street Lutheran - ELCA St Michael's 13232 Blondo Street Lutheran St Paul 13271 Millard Avenue Lutheran St Paul 5020 Grand Avenue Lutheran - LCMS St Thomas 17007 Q Street Lutheran - ELCA St Timothy's 510 North 93rd Street Lutheran Trinity 6340 North 30th Street Lutheran Zion Peace 4001 Q Street Lutheran - LCMS Zion West 14205 Ida Street Lutheran - LCMS Millard Bible Church 14345 Y Street Mennonite New Hope Mennonite Church Douglas Street Mennonite Asbury 5226 N 15th Street Methodist Clair Memorial 5544 Ames Avenue Methodist Dietz 1423 S 10th Street Methodist Faith-Westwood 4814 Oaks Lane Methodist First 7020 Cass Street Methodist Free Methodist 9354 Corby Street Methodist Grace 2418 E Street Methodist Hanscom Park Frances Street Methodist Lefler 1501 Madison Street Methodist Living Faith 15426 W Center Road Methodist Mapleview Free Methodist 9525 Maple Street Methodist Maplewood 3535 Maplewood Boulevard Methodist Olive Crest 7180 N 60th Street Methodist Pearl Memorial 2319 Ogden Street Methodist Rockbrook 9855 W Center Road Methodist St Andrews 15050 W Maple Road Methodist Trinity 6001 Fontenelle Boulevard Methodist Union Memorial 2712 R St Methodist Freedom Assembly 4224 North 24th Street Pentecostal New Creation 4801 North 144th Street Pentecostal Benson 5612 Corby Street Presbyterian Castelar 2410 South 16th Street Presbyterian Central 726 South 55th Street Presbyterian Clifton Hill 2301 North 45th Street Presbyterian Covenant 15002 Blondo Street Presbyterian Cross 1517 South 114th Street Presbyterian Dundee 5312 Underwood Avenue Presbyterian Faithful Shepherd 2530 South 165th Avenue Presbyterian First 216 South 34th Street Presbyterian Florence 8314 North 31st Street Presbyterian Grace Reformed 5151 North 93rd Street Presbyterian Harvest Community 4932 Ohio Street Presbyterian Hope 14015 Q Street Presbyterian Korean 3734 South 13th Street Presbyterian Lowe Avenue 1023 North 40th Street Presbyterian Miller Park 3020 Huntington Avenue Presbyterian Mosher-Pilgrim 4622 Monroe Street Presbyterian Mount View 5308 Hartman Avenue Presbyterian New Life 4060 Pratt Street Presbyterian Presbyterian Center 4412 Farnam Street Presbyterian Church Of Master 2815 North 108th Street Presbyterian Underwood Hills 851 North 74th Street Presbyterian West Hills 3015 South 82nd Avenue Presbyterian Westminster 3416 Woolworth Avenue Presbyterian Wheeler Memorial 4501 South 23rd Street Presbyterian First Unitarian Church of Omaha 3114 Harney Street Unitarian Universalist Second Unitarian Church Of Omaha 3012 South 119th Street Unitarian Universalist Christ-Love Unity Church 2903 Ellison Avenue Unity Unity Church of Omaha 3424 North 90th Street Unity First Central 421 South 36th Street Omaha NE 68131 United Church of Christ Congregational See also
- Jewish community in Omaha
- List of cemeteries in Omaha
References
- ^ Larsen and Cottrell. (1997) The Gate City: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. p 51.
- ^ Larsen and Cotrell. p 51.
- ^ Cotrell and Larsen. p 53.
- ^ (2003) The Negroes of Nebraska: The Negro goes to church. Memorial Library.
- ^ Lizzie Robinson House City of Omaha Landmark Preservation Commission. Retrieved 5/3/07.
- ^ Notre Dame Academy 1928-1974. Notre Dame Sisters of Omaha, Nebraska. Retrieved 6/11/07.
- ^ Cotrell and Larsen. p 233.
- ^ (1953) "Psychiatry for Pastors" Time. 10/26/53. Retrieved 7/11/07.
- ^ Calvin Memorial Presbyterian Church (originally North Presbyterian Church). City of Omaha's Landmark Heritage Preservation Commission. Retrieved 5/29/07.
- ^ Holy Family Church City of Omaha Landmarks. Retrieved 5/2/07.
- ^ McCord, Julia. (2003) "Parish offers Rucker kids free schooling," Omaha World Herald. October 2, 2003.
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See also: Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan areaCategories:- Christianity in Omaha, Nebraska
- Lists of churches in the United States
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