LOWDEN CHURCHES

ZION EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED

Among the early settlers who were charter members of this church were A. Geadelmann, C. Penningroth, H. Heiner, W. Brandt, D. Conrad, W. Richmann and Phil Schneider. The people had first been served by itinerant pastors of various denominations, but in 1863 the church was organized. This same year the first building, located three miles south of Lowden was dedicated, and the first resident pastor, Rev. J. Haerdtle, was installed.

In 1866 Rev. C. Off took charge and served until 1871. During his pastorate a new constitution was adopted, and the membership increased to 44 families. His successor was the Rev. A. Jennerich, who served from 1872 to 1875. Next was Rev. W. Wahl, who served until 1876. During that year the present church property was acquired and the second church was dedicated in July, 1877.

Meanwhile, the Rev. J. Schwarz was installed in 1877. During his ministry the membership increased to 83 families. He also began the work in Clarence which eventually led to the organization of St. John’s Church there. In 1882 a ladies’ organization, now known as the Women’s Guild, was organized.

In 1892 the Rev. F. Werning became the pastor. Since about twenty families had united with the newly established church in Clarence, the membership of the mother church had dropped to about sixty families. However, under the leadership of the pastor, the congregation again reached a membership of 103 families. Since work had been carried on in Bennett since 1895, the pastor was able to organize Peach Church there in 1907. Again Zion Church provided about twenty families to this new venture. In 1896 a parsonage was built, and in 1901 the church was redecorated and a pipe organ installed.

The Rev. J. Reichardt was installed in 1915 and served until 1918. Lightning destroyed the building in 1916, but only a few weeks were required to subscribe sufficient funds for a new building. The present church was dedicated in 1917. After an interim of five months, during which time the Rev. Karl Fauth, pastor of St. John’s Church in Clarence, had temporary charge of the work, Rev. P. Van Dyck took charge. He served until 1926 when ill health forced him to retire. At the beginning of his pastorate a resolution was adopted decreeing that religious instruction in the Church School and confirmation classes should be given in the English language, and English services should alternate with the German services. Membership in the Church School increased and the church basement was remodeled into suitable Sunday School rooms.

The Rev. Theo. Thomas became minister in 1926. In 1932 the Rev. Fred J. Abele succeeded him. A new constitution was adopted, mid-week Lenten services were introduced, and many repairs were made on all the church property.

The Rev. Norman S. Roberts, present pastor, was called following the resignation of Rev. Abele in 1946. In 1947 the Sanctuary of the church was remodeled and redecorated. A new pipe organ was dedicated in 1949. In 1956 the new educational building was dedicated. It contains space for fourteen classes, a church office, a large unobstructed fellowship hall with stage and dressing rooms, a Church School secretary’s office, a boiler room, and rest rooms and is joined with the church by a tunnel.

During the pastorate of Rev. Roberts the congregation has grown to 260 families. There are 525 communicant members and 136 baptized members. The Sunday School has an enrollment of 237. Other organizations not mentioned previously include the Brotherhood, Youth Fellowship, Evening Circle, and Junior High Fellowship. The church has both a Senior and a Junior choir.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Early Lutheran settlers who came in 1865 included Henry and John Licht, Henry Wiebel, Gottfried Meier, William Schroeder, John Kruckenberg, John Klipp, and others. These affiliated with the local Evangelical Church and were joined in 1869 by other Lutherans who were referred by their pastor to Rev. C. Seuel, who served the Lutheran Church in Olive Twp., Clinton County, known as Buena Vista.

The Lutherans of Lowden and to the north and west in the Evangelical Church asked for and were granted a school. The itinerant instructor engaged by Pastor Off of the Evangelical Church noticed that the catechism in use was not Lutheran. When through his agitation this became known, the Lutheran families in the Evangelical Church combined with the Lutherans attending Buena Vista, and under the leadership of Rev. Seuel organized Trinity Lutheran Church here in 1871. Forty-five men with their families joined the congregation.

Four lots were purchased from the Petersen Bros. and the first church was erected in 1871 on the present site. In 1880 the tower was rebuilt, the windows were given their present Gothic form, the present U-shaped balcony and pillars were added, and new pews replaced the originals. The first pipe organ was installed in 1883, and it was the first such musical instrument in any of the Lutheran churches in Iowa. In 1901 an addition was added to the west, and a ten-foot chancel niche was built to give the church its present form. The basement and furnace heating facilities as well as altar, font, pulpit, and pews were acquired at this time also. The present bell was a gift of the youth organization in 1910, and the interior was furnished with the tin wall and ceiling covering in 1913. The first parsonage was built in 1871 and was enlarged in 1889. The present parsonage was constructed in 1927. Present teacherage was acquired in 1920.

Beginning with a soul membership of approximately 200 persons in 1871, the congregation grew until in numbered 665 souls, 433 communicants and 87 voters when the church was 50 years old. Today its membership is 760 souls, 565 communicants, and 120 voters.

The Voter’s Assembly was organized in 1871 with 45 members. The Ladies’ Aid, organized in 1894, now numbers 100 members. The Sewing Circle, organized in 1935, has a present membership of 70. Preceded by both a young men’s and a young ladies’ organization, which functioned as early as fifty years ago, the present Walther League youth organization was begun 36 years ago and has a present membership of 70 people. A Young couples’ club, formed in 1941, now has a membership of 40 couples.

Organized under the leadership of Pastor Seuel, Trinity was served by Rev. H. Englebrecht, who was called in May, 1871. His successor was the late Rev. J. H. Brammer, who guided the congregation from 1873 to 192, continuing as an emeritus until 1926. Both Pastors Englebrecht and Brammer served the parish at Buena Vista, and the latter also ministered to St. Paul’s congregation in Stanwood. Rev. C. F. Pritz was called in 1920 and served until 1926. Rev. Herman Maas, now an emeritus of the congregation, came in September, 1926, and served until 1949 when he resigned because of ill health. The present pastor, Rev. Theo. J. Eickelberg came in 1949.