Christmas trees, glowing candles, Nativity scenes, and sanctuaries dressed for the season. We asked Iowa Road Trip Facebook followers to share photos of their churches decorated for Christmas, and the responses brought us inside churches across Iowa.
This gallery brings together those reader submissions, along with a few of my own photos. It’s a celebration of the congregations and volunteers who make these spaces special for the holidays, rather than a ranked list.
These photos show decorations from previous Christmas seasons. Displays change from year to year, and church names in the captions reflect the original submissions. Thank you to everyone who shared a photo!
If a church catches your eye and you’d like to visit, contact the congregation first to ask about public visiting hours and when its Christmas decorations will be on display.
Peace United Church of Christ in Gladbrook, Iowa. Photo by Jane SassSt. Peter’s Catholic Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Photo by Jenny SmithFaith Community Church in Palmer, Iowa. Photo by Bonnie GerdesOur Savior Presbyterian Church in LeClaire, Iowa. Photo by Carole OliverSs Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Petersburg, Iowa. Photo by Tami LansingSeventh-Day Adventist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Photo by Angelique Cromwell.Second Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. Photo by Barb AshtonChrist United Presbyterian Church in Oelwein, Iowa. Photo by Mark StewartBasilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa. Photo by Tami Lansing Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa. Photo by Pat Feldmann Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa. Photo by Kristine SuttonUnited Presbyterian Church in Vail, Iowa. Photo by MaroLee MillerZion American Lutheran Church in Wyoming, Iowa. Photo by Michelle Hansen.Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola, Iowa. Photo by Connee Larsen.Outdoor services at Rhythm Church in Mason City, Iowa. Photo by Dee Pearce. Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan, Iowa. Photo by Jan Wilwerding.Conrad United Methodist Church in Conrad, Iowa. Photo by Pat Schiebel.First Presbyterian Church in Independence, Iowa. Photo by Karen Bahr. Fremont Lutheran Church in Nyman, Iowa. Photo by Christi Johnson.Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Gilbertville, Iowa. Photo by Father Henry Huber. Father Huber invited me to tour this church, and I finally made the trip in 2022. Take a look inside in my photo tour of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.Loving Chapel UMC in Leon, Iowa. Photo by Doug Kouba.Maquoketa Sacred Heart Church in Maquoketa, Iowa. Photo by Dick Rickerl.Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage,Iowa. Photo by Jill Goodale. United Methodist Church in Lenox, Iowa. Photo by Deb Miller. St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, Iowa. Photo by Tami Lansing.Nativity Scene at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, Iowa. Photo by Tami Lansing. Faith Evangelical Church in Sumner, Iowa. Photo by Kelly Ladage. Faith Evangelical Church in Sumner, Iowa. Photo by Kelly Ladage. Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by Brian Abeling.St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa. Photo by Brian Abeling. St. Joseph’s in Dedham, Iowa. Photo by Jan Schulte. St. Mary’s Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Photo by Bruce Peiffer.St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Dubuque, Iowa. Photo by Emily Shol. St. Luke’s is also known for its collection of Tiffany stained glass windows. See more of the church in my photo tour of the Tiffany windows at St. Luke’s.Alice United Methodist Church in Center Point, Iowa. Photo submitted by Kimmy JohnsonAll Saints Catholic Church in Le Mars, Iowa. Photo submitted by Annette Kuiken.Burr Oak Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, Iowa. Photo submitted by Sharlyn Bibler.Geneva United Methodist Church in Geneva, Iowa Photo submitted by Jamie Reinke.Holy Trinity Lutheran Chuch in Newton. Photo submitted by Marilyn Terlouw.Saint Aloysius in Calmar, Iowa. Photo submitted by Father Henry Huber. St John’s Catholic Church in Delhi, Iowa. Photo submitted by Mark Kramer.St. Joseph’s in Marion, Iowa. Photo submitted by Shanna Duggan.St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, Iowa. Photo submitted by Lisa Plendl. St. Patrick’s in Buffalo Center, Iowa. Photo submitted by Cathy Hughes.St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo submitted by Michael LelandUCC Marshalltown, Iowa. Photo submitted by Lora Bachman. The tree on the left is decorated entirely with homemade ornaments.
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