Middle Fork United Methodist Church

ATEN, MCFARLAND, WAUGH, GRIFFITH, TARDY, HAGANS, GLENDENNING, DENNIS, SAVILLE, JARVIS, SHAFFER, OLIVER, GANDER, BELLAMY, STRAWN, SHAFER, HOFFMAN, STATON, JONES, WOOLEVER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 9/4/2009 at 07:01:18

MIDDLE FORK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Rural Ringgold County, Iowa

Middle Fork Methodist Church was organized in the early 1870's. Without a church building, the congregation met in the Center Schoolhouse [later called Rose Hill School] and the Clipper Schoolhouse. During this time the church was a point on the Mormontown [present-day Blockton] circuit. In 1884, it became a part of the new Redding charge.

In the spring of 1886, a six-week revival under the leadership of Pastor T. G. ATEN was held, conducted by evangelist Bill McFARLAND who stood at six-foot-six-inches. Evangelist McFARLAND was said to have saved more than a hundred souls.

The Middle Fork Methodists had for some time felt a need to erect a church building. Fired by the revival, they decided to proceed. After some controversy, a site was located two miles southeast of Center and adjacent to Middle Fork Cemetery which had been established in 1858 when the Harvey WAUGH and the Judson GRIFFITH families each had lost a child. Mrs. TARDY and her infant were buried there within a month.

NOTE: George WAUGH died at the age of six days on February 1, 1869. James E. GRIFFITH died at the ageo of 4 years and 2 months on February 20, 1869. Both interments at Middle Fork Cemetery. Harvey WAUGH died at the age of 60 on January 8, 1895; Nancy (?) WAUGH died at the age of 54 on May 7, 1888, interments at Middle Fork Cemetery.

In the summer of 1886, the Rose Hill and Clipper congregations met at the proposed church site, parishioners arriving in teams and wagons decorated with bunting and flowers. After a picnic lunch, a corner stone was laid in the north east corner. The cornerstone contained a community history, a Bible, and a list of the congregation's members, which included: Sarah "Jane" HAGANS (died age 80 on July 7, 1920, interment Middle Fork Cemetery), Alex HAGANS, Mr. (1842-1916) and Mrs. James W. GLENDENNING, Mr. and Mrs. Noah JARVIS, Lora DENNIS, Ezekiel M. (1834-1914) and Ruth A. (1836-1921) DENNIS, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. SAVILLE, Mr. and Mrs. Henry WAUGH, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. WAUGH, Tillie GLENDENNING, Robert SHAFFER, Frederick Newton "Fred" (1846-1926) and Martha Jane (GRIFFITH) OLIVER (1853-1935), Mr. and Mrs. J. H. GANDER, Corwin GANDER, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas GLENDENNING, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. BELLAMY, Mary BELLAMY, Lena BELLAMY, Mr. and Mrs. Watson SHAFER, Mrs. Almira STRAWN (ca.1833-1900) and Emma STRAWN, Mr. (1849-1923) and Mrs. David F. HOFFMAN, Martin P. (1841-1915) and Elizabeth (1831-1922) HOFFMAN, Sarah Alice WAUGH, Laura ROYSDEN, and Flora WAUGH.

Work began immediately on building the church with J. H. SAVILLE and W. M. STATON, architects. All of the labor was donated and the funds had been raised by the congregation. There had never been a mortgage on the church. The congregation's motto was to "build it to last 100 years."

Middle Fork Methodist Church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day of 1886 with a crowd that overflowed into the churchyard. It was decided by the founding congregation that the church's doors would never be locks so that "anyone desiring solitary worship or a chance traveller seeking shelter from a storm" would find solace within the walls.

In 1903, G. August JONES, a noted writer and evangelist from Lincoln, Nebraska, held a successful revial with the pastor, Rev. W. D. WOOLEVER, an outstanding musician, providing the music.

Sunday School conventions were a part of Middle Fork's church activities with J. H. WAUGH serving as the president for many years. In January of 1927, the Ladies Aid Society was organized with Mrs. Willard [Margaret] WAUGH as president with 20 members.

The Redding and Middle Fork churches were placed on separate circuits in 1912. Services at Middle Fork Church were held Sunday afternoons, which continued until 1930. To save money during the Depression, the circuit was combined with Blockton and Platteville when services were held twice a month.

The circuit was divided again in 1947 and services were resumed every Sunday. The church was added to the Blockton circuit in 1958. In 1972, the church became a part of the Larger Parish with Mount Ayr.

In 1982, Middle Fork United Methodist Church membership was under thirty.

The Middle Fork United Methodist Church is located southeast of Redding, about 4 miles east of U.S. Highway 169, on the north side of Country Road 310 Avenue. It is listed on the National Registor of Historic Places (#90001801). The Middle Fork Cemetery is located on the church grounds, directly east of the church.

Source: Redding: The First Hundred Years: 1882-1982, Pp. 33-35

Photographs by Sharon R. Becker, May 22, 2009
Written & submitted by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009; updated September of 2009

Middle Fork Methodist Church
 

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