Cerro Gordo County Iowa
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UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST 100 1st Street NE, Mason City Mason Township, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
The First Congregation United Church of Christ incorporates its original 1860's building (right) behind
a brick facade that matches a newer portion of the building, built during the 1890's.
Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
On March 7, 1858, a Congregational Church was organized in Mason City under the direction of
Rev. Thomas Tenney of Plymouth, who had held periodic services here since 1855. Among the first members were Nathiel (sic)
Adams, Emma Adams, Charles M. Adams, Simon Van Patter, L. L. Huntley, Lucy Temple, Elizabeth Dibble, Jane E. Garner, T. Green
and Eleanor Florence. NOTE:
Nathanel M. Adams was born May 6,1814, Auburn, Maine, and died November 11, 1895, Mason City. Emma Ann (Child) Adams,
his wife, was born February 14, 1816, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and died January 24, 1887. They were interred at
Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.
First church to be erected in Mason City is pictured above. It was build by the Congregationalists in 1866 and is still used as parish parlor. Erected later was the parsonage, shown on the corner, where the main structure of the Congregational Church now stands.
In April, 1866, a lot was purchased for $30, on which was erected a stone church at a cost of $4,294. The whole amount
was raised by subscription except for $500 donated by the Congregational Union. This church, the first to be built in
Mason City, was dedicated May 12, 1868. This building is part of the present First Congregational Church, being used as
parish parlor.
The First Congregational Church, also underwent phenomenal growth in this period. It assumed the support of its pastor in 1874 and the next year built a parsonage.
In 1898 the congregation erected the present [1953] church on the parsonage site adjoining the original church. The building was dedicated Dec. 5, 1898, by the Rev. T. O. Douglas, Grinnell, during the pastorate of Rev. Charles H. Rogers.
NOTE: A cornerstone for a new and larger church was laid April 27, 1898. The old
structure was incorporated into the new building, which was dedicated on December 5, 1898. The congregation voted on
January 11, 1861 to become a part of the United Church of Christ, a merger of the Congregational Christian Churches with
the German Evangelical and Reformed Church.
Provided with ample building facilities the First Congregational Church continued to add to its membership. The parsonage at 221 3rd N. E. built in 1915, was the gift of Mrs. Mayne Denison Keeler in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Denison, who had been active leaders in the church.
The Globe Gazette
[Section 8, Pages 10 & 13] NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CHANCEL - One of the outstanding remodeling
projects among churches in the last five years is that of the First Congregational Church, which dedicated a new chancel
and other improvements on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the congregation May 30, 1948. The picture at
right shows the divided chancel and beautiful rose window. Other improvements included a private prayer chapel.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2015
The Globe-Gazette
MASON CITY The First Congregational United Church of Christ, one of Mason City's oldest congregations, will launch a
year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary on Sunday.
"People 150 years ago saw a need in this community that could be addressed by this church," the Rev. Patti AURAND
"On such a significant anniversary, we get to reflect on the past, present and future, who we are and who we're called
to be."
The First Congregational Church, an English church that is also the church of the Pilgrims, built the first church
building in Mason City at 100 First St. N.E., the site of the present church.
The congregation prides itself on its stained-glass windows, including a rose window above the altar in the sanctuary
and windows in its Willson Chapel, created in 1962-1963 by the late Francis "Bob" White, a noted stained-glass artist
from Chicago.
Music has always been important to members and goes back at least as far as 1905, when an elementary school orchestra
was formed to play at the Congregational Church every Sunday morning. Its members included a young Meredith WILLSON on
the flute.
Other notable musicians from this church include the Earl and Florence DEAN family, Mason City band leader Carleton
STEWART, flutist Penelope PETERSON FISCHER and organist Kathleen McCREADY HARRIS.
Bob EHLERS, 79, a third-generation member of the church, said his grandparents, Dr. Earle and Louise McEWEN, were early
church members. Earle McEWEN served as Sunday school superintendent for many years.
Bob EHLER'S mother, Grace EHLERS, played the organ while a young Meredith WILLSON played an ocarina, a flute-like wind
instrument. Grace also performed with WILLSON in the church's youth orchestra.
Margaret HANLEY, 92, also grew up in the Congregational Church and remembers the active church youth groups in her day.
"Rosalie WILLSON (Sunday school superintendent from 1898 to 1926) was active in my church when I was in Sunday school,"
HANLEY said. "She liked to put on little plays. We'd go to her house and practice. She was very talented."
The church in those days featured an elevated choir loft and one large Sunday school room in what is now the Fellowship
Room. In those days, the room had a wood floor. Classes were sectioned off by dividers, according to HANLEY.
True to its Puritan heritage, the Congregational Church has taken seriously its mission of social justice.
In May 1985, the Mason City congregation co-sponsored a 34-unit low-cost housing project for the elderly known as Pilgrim
Place. It is located near Regency Mall on the eastern edge of Mason City.
Church members have played key roles in organizing Mason Citys Community Kitchen, local CROP Walk, to raise money to feed
the poor, and in establishing a Habitat for Humanity chapter in Mason City.
"We are trying to find a way to live out our faith in ways that are relevant to our faith and useful and relevant to the
community," said AURAND, the first woman minister at the Mason City church. A few facts about First Congregational:
Church membership grew to a high of 800 in the 1950s-1960s. Current membership is 226.
Over the years, church members have included such notable citizens as Meredith WILLSON; the MacNIDER family; attorney
James E. BLYTHE, who helped develop Rock Glen-Rock Crest and bring Frank Lloyd WRIGHT to town; O. T. DENISON, pioneer
brick and tile manufacturer; Mason City mayors George MENDEN and Ken KEW; and Globe Gazette editor/publisher W. Earl
HALL.
One of the church's previous ministers, the Rev. S.F. MILLIKAN (1891-1893), was the father of Dr. Robert MILLIKAN, who
isolated the electron and was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1923.
The church's longest-serving minister was the Rev. Robert STONE, pastor from January 1956 to October 1987.
A brief history:
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 100 First St. N.E., begins a celebration of its 150th anniversary on Sunday.
Founded March 7, 1858, it is the city's oldest congregation.
In 1866, the First Congregational Society of Mason City purchased for $30 a lot on First Street Northeast. A
40-by-60-foot stone church was erected there. It was dedicated May 12, 1868.
The cornerstone for a new, larger church was laid April 27, 1898. The new building incorporated the old structure.
The completed sanctuary for the First Congregational Church was dedicated Dec. 4, 1898.
An education wing was completed in 1960 on the north end of the church and named the Rosalie REINIGER WILLSON wing after
Rosalie WILLSON, mother of Meredith WILLSON. She served as Sunday School superintendent from 1898 to 1926.
The wing includes the WILLSON Chapel, a youth room, music room, Sunday School classrooms and a nursery. The Discovery
Time Preschool, which operates independently of the church, has a separate area on the lower level of this wing.
Other notable rooms are the elegant Stone Fellowship Room and the columbarium, originally a prayer chapel dedicated to
those who died in service to their country.
On Jan. 11, 1961, the congregation voted to become part of the United Church of Christ, a merger of the Congregational
Christian Churches with the German Evangelical and Reformed Church.
Major restoration work that included extensive repairs to the church tower, roof and stained-glass windows was recently
completed. The sanctuary was also remodeled to make it handicapped accessible.
150th anniversary events:
All activities are open to the public.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2011
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First services were led by the Rev. Thomas TENNEY, a graduate of Dartmouth College who served with the American
Missionary Society. Services were held in the log cabins of the 11 charter members at a schoolhouse and the courthouse.