Center Chapel Church

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

Posted By: Charles E. Hales (email)
Date: 10/6/2005 at 18:57:08

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 schoolhouse 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 the first trustees. 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 brethren 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 in1868. It was a good building for the time and larger than the average country 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 present brick building was dedicated in 1923. Rev. M.F. Campbell was pastor and Hector DeHart 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.

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 a 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.

I do not know the date of this article as written by Mr. Warren whom I was privileged to know personally. The clipping has been in my possession for some time. My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, along with dozens of other relatives, are all buried in this beautiful, well-maintained cemetery.