St. Simon's Episcopal Mission (Des Moines, Iowa)

E.M.M. Wright, Priest-in-Charge at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Keokuk, Iowa went to Des Moines in 1927 for the purpose of establishing an Episcopal church to serve African Americans in Des Moines. In 1933 church property was purchased from the Des Moines YWCA. James B. Morris, attorney and publisher of the Bystander newspaper, was actively involved as a layman in matters related to the purchase of church property and efforts to hire a pastor. Ultimately lack of finances led to the dissolution of St. Simon's Mission by the office of the Bishop of Iowa in November, 1942.