Church

First Evangelical United Brethren Church, Cedar Rapids, IA

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History
of
First Evangelical
United Brethren Church
at
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1876 - 1910

The First Church of the United Brethren in Christ officially came into existence May 3, 1877, at which time a Certificate of Incorporation was filed for record with the Linn County Iowa recorder. This Certificate bore the signatures of Rev. J. S. Rock, James Bolander, John Bear, Christian Bear and Albert Perry. There were approximately thirty charter members. Prior to that time some of the members had belonged to Dairy Dale Church in Cedar Rapids.

The founder and first pastor who organized this church was Rev. J. S. Rock. He first came to Cedar Rapids in 1874. For several years he ministered to a congregation in temporary places of worship, such as public halls and homes of members. By the spring of 1879 it was felt by the congregation that had been gathered to that time, that if the Church were to grow and prosper, a suitable Church House was needed.

Accordingly the present site of the Church, on the corner of Fourth Ave. and 7th St., was purchased for $2000 and very soon thereafter plans began to take shape toward the erection of a commodious and suitable church building.

It was not until October, 1879 that sufficient funds had been secured to justify the beginning of the building enterprise. A favorable season made it possible for the work to progress rapidly, and on the 6th of March, 1880 the basement story, containing lecture room, library and two Sunday school rooms was formally opened for worship. During the summer of 1881 the auditorium was finished and furnished, and the house was dedicated with fitting cermonies by Bishop Jonathan Weaver.

Members of the first Board of Trustees were: Christ Bear, John Bear, Thos. Garlow and Rev. M. R. Drury.

By 1900 the membership had increased to approximately 200.

In 1907 a Men's Club was formed with approximately twelve charter members, beside Rev. Byron J. Clark who was chairman.

As Cedar Rapids continued to grow, and with the ever-increasing membership with its demands for additional facilities, it was decided to reconstruct and rebuild the church at an approximate cost of $25,000.

Thus in September, 1910 a corner stone was laid. A box was buried in the corner stone containing: The Holy Bible; Discipline of the church; Religious Telescope; an editorial of the church; a copy of the watchword and other Sunday school literature; copies of the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Republican; names of the trustees, building committee and the finance committee; the pastor, Rev. R. J. Clark; presiding elder Rev. E. W. Curtis of Des Moines; Bishop W. H. Weekly of Kansas City; a program of the corner stone laying; names of former pastors of the church since 1876; original signatures of the incorporators and the first board of trustees; picture of the Old Otterbein Hall, 119 S. First St. W., in which the local organization took place; picture of the church before remodeling: picture of Dairy Dale church; a copy of the third quarter, Otterbein Quarterly for 1910; the September number of the Otterbein Teacher for 1910, a song book "For the King's Business" together with eight pennies. The corner stone bears the following inscription: "First United Brethren Church, 1869-1910, Christ Our Corner Stone.

In February, 1911 the new church was finished and dedicated by Bishop W. M. Weekly.