Nestled on a hilltop just outside town, the red brick and offset spires topped with crosses of Saints Peter and Paul Chapel rise above rolling farmland, visible from the gravel roads below.
For more than a century, the chapel has stood as a landmark for Czech Catholic families in the area as a place for worship, weddings, and community gatherings. Now, as the building approaches its 110-year anniversary, leaders say upkeep and renovation costs may become a challenge.
Chapel supporters launched a fundraising campaign in 2024 and hope a resurgence in wedding reservations will provide funded for needed repairs.
Czech immigrants founded church
In the serene countryside of Solon, the chapel emulates a combination of Midwest charm and Roman Gothic design. Dark red brick, arched stained-glass windows, and twin spires contrast with the surrounding fields, seemingly out of place in the rural area.
Originally built in 1861 by Czech Bohemian immigrants, the church became the first Bohemian Catholic congregation in Iowa, bringing in visitors and members from around the community for mass and other services.
“Our ancestors helped to build the building, and it’s meaningful that the people who built it are special to us,” said Allison Dix, a longtime supporter of the chapel. “It’s part of the community, and being a rural community, it’s kind of a landmark for us.”
National Register of Historic Places
Rising membership in the early 1900s prompted the parish to build a larger church building — that still stands today — in 1916.
After 80 years of service, the church closed in 1996 due to a declining number of attendees.
Members of the church quickly gathered to raise funds in hopes of saving the historic building from demolition. Successful, the church underwent major renovations, including indoor plumbing, a downstairs kitchen, and an accessibility ramp, and reopened as a chapel in 1998.
Among historical features that remain are stained glass murals with Czech inscriptions, donated by Bohemian parishioners, according to the chapel’s website. In between the stained glass panes, there are partially three-dimensional murals of Jesus’ Crucifixion. At the very end of the chamber sits a grand marble altar, crafted in Italy and delivered to the chapel.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, formally recognizing its historical significance.
Weddings are primary income source
The Saints Peter and Paul Chapel remains open, celebrating Czech and Catholic traditions, fostering community, and hosting events — primarily weddings.
Dix first became involved in the church as a young child. Her grandparents were members when it was still an active Catholic parish. Her involvement continued throughout the years, as she helped coordinate weddings, assist guests, and advocate for the property to prevent damage during events.
Dix and her family also participate in events hosted by the chapel, such as the Fall Auction, as a way to give back and offer support.
“We’re not this wealthy family that could donate millions, but we have been very active in helping the silent auction as something that we can give to,” Dix said. “It’s something we can do on our own that also gives back to the chapel.”
Like many other venues, Saints Peter and Paul Chapel was greatly impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, said White. Fewer couples scheduled large weddings and weekends at the chapel turned quiet and empty.
But things are starting to turn around.
“We’re picking up,” White assured visitors on a tour of the chapel. “This year, we’ve booked six [weddings] so far. Whereas we used to have up to 40. And the last 10 years or so, we probably averaged about 15 or 20.”
Repairs needed
Chapel supporters want it to last another century, but that depends on whether the community steps up. The building needs brick repair, caulking, masonry cleaning, concrete patching, and application of water repellent, with costs estimated between $80,000 and $100,000.
As a way to raise funds for the necessary exterior repairs, supporters launched the Chapel Capital Campaign in 2024 for community members to assist in donating. They also are looking for grants to pay for needed repairs.
For many, the chapel’s history is woven into generations, and its preservation showcases not only wanting to maintain the property but protect the history of Czech immigrants who helped shape the region.
“Helping people to know the history of the area and keeping it as a way to tell future generations about Czech heritage in this area is another great way to utilize that facility,” Dix said.
Jean Litts, vice president of the Chapel, has watched her children and grandchildren build memories where she has volunteered at since childhood. Now, she hopes the tradition will continue for future generations.
“You know, it’s, it’s hard to know, because the younger generation, you know, they don’t have that, quite that feeling as I do,” said Litts. “I’ll be buried across the road someday, and so, won’t go very far.”
Although the future of the space feels uncertain, its place on the National Register of Historical Places underlines how important the Saints Peter and Paul Chapel has been and will continue to be for the people of the community.
To support the Chapel Capital Campaign, you may donate through Venmo @StsPeterPaulChapel or by contacting the church board at [email protected]. To find out more about using the chapel as a rental space, go to the chapel website, https://sts-peterandpaul.org.
Mitchell Brinkmeyer, Allisa Pandit, and Madison Schuler are students in the UI Community News class.