CENTER CHAPEL CHURCH

WARREN, MCINTOSH, DAVIS, BROWN, THOMA, BREWSTER, RINABARGER, HAINES, STAFFORD, POTTER, EDWARDS, CAMPBELL, DE HART

Posted By: Charles E. Hales (email)
Date: 3/17/2005 at 17:09:23

A Place of Worship
Center Chapel Church
South of Keosauqua

“Log Church Known as Brush Chapel Thought to be First Church in Co.” Says E. J. Warren.

Keosauqua, Iowa

A log church known as Brush Chapel is supposed to have been built in 1841. It was the first church built in Iowa south of the Des Moines river and probably was the first one built in Van Buren county. It was built of logs and the work donated by the farmers of the community. The actual cost in money was not very great. The fact that it was built several years before there was a school house in this part of the country is evidence that the early settlers who came from the East and were Methodists who were very religious. George McIntosh donated the land for the church and cemetery and was one of first trutees [sp.] The others were Samuel Davis and Washington Brown.

The men sat on the south side of this aisle in the center of the church. The southwest corner was known as the amen corner, because the brethern who occupied it used that word so often during the prayers and sermons of the pastor. The southeast corner was known as the devil’s corner. Those who occupied it probably were not so bad as the name indicated. The farmers of that time were powerful men physically, and if anyone would try to disturb a meeting they were not adverse to using their muscles to promote the respect for the house of God. There never was any organ in the first church. However, they sang the old time hymns and John Thoma, the song leader is said to have been quite proficient.

A frame church was erected in 1868. It was a good building for the time and larger than the average county church. Harvey Brewster, a son of one of the charter members, and grandfather of Dr. Rinabarger, was chairman of the building committee. Rev. Haines, who afterward wrote the history of Iowa Methodism was pastor of the church.

The frame church lasted twice as long as the log church and we are hopeful that the present substantial building will be serving the people of the community as house of worship during the next hundred years.

Among those who began preaching as local preachers on our circuit were: Rev. C. L. Stafford for several years president of Iowa Wesleyan College; Rev. J. W. Potter and Rev. Fred Edwards now pastor at Oskaloosa.

The present brick building was dedicated in 1923. Rev. M. F. Campbell was pastor and Hector De Hart chairman of the building committee. It is one of the best country churches in the state and cost including donated labor, more than $14,000. Four generations of some families have been members of our church. It has been connected with Bentonsport and Mt. Sterling and now with Keosauqua. We have preaching services Sunday mornings at 10 o’clock followed by Sunday school.

I thank Mrs. Duane (Lori ) Boyd of Arvada, CO for sending me this old newspaper clipping. The newspaper is unknown.
During my youth my family was personally acquainted with Mr. Ed Warren.
The well maintained, eighty-two year-old, church still stands next to the cemetery where three generations of my ancestors are presently buried. It is located approximately three miles south and two miles east of Keosauqua in Vernon Township.