HISTORY OF

TRURO UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

 

Truro United Church of Christ - 2009

 

As with many churches in Madison County, the Truro United Church of Christ has its roots with the early settlers. It started as the "Christian Church", then merged to become the "Christian Congregational" church and merged once more to become the "Truro United Church of Christ". In 1950, it also started sharing the pastor with the Truro Methodist church. It all started in the winter of 1856 when a small group of Christian-minded men and women gathered at the home of Ephraim DeLong two miles south of the present town of Truro.  Under the leadership of Rev. A.D. Kellison, the Christian Church was organized with charter members Ephraim & Hannah DeLong, Jesse & Betsy DeLong, Reuben & Mary Creger, Jane (DeLong) McNeely, V., John & Mahala Creger and their daughter Risby. For about 15 years the services were held in members homes, finally moving to school houses as they were built in the early 1870s.

 

In 1875/76, the congregation built it's own building shown on the right. In the early 1880s, the town of Ego was laid out, a railroad laid through town, the town was renamed to "Truro" and the Christian Church building was moved a short distance west of it's previous location.

In 1893 the church was remodeled and the belfry with a glistening aluminum spire was added which may not have been the best idea since just 5 years later, in June 1898, the church was struck by lightning and everything was lost except the organ and 8 pews. Six days after the fire, the pastor, Rev. Calvin Lamb, passed away at a Waterloo hospital where he had gone for treatment of unrelated medical problems. One thousand dollars was received as an insurance settlement and was immediately applied towards a new building.

The new building (as seen at the top of the page) was dedicated March 12, 1899 with a program of song, prayer and scripture reading led by Rev. J. H. Creger.  He was assisted by Reverends Farley and Storrs and Rev. Follensbee gave the sermon.  A history of the church was given by Isaac Holmes, a deacon at the time.  Frank Roby conducted the singing.

Ohio Township Christian Church

Built In 1875/76

At the turn of the century, the young people attended many church functions beside service:  Sunday School, Christian Endeavor, choir practice, Epworth League, annual Sunday School programs and picnics and Children’s Days.  On the right is a photograph of the Children’s Day Drill Team for June 1906. Click here for a larger image and the names of the participants.

 

In 1915-1916 the church parsonage was built.  It was a modern 8-room home located 2 blocks north and 2 blocks west of the church. Rev. S. L. Bougher and his family were the first occupants. In 1920, there were 249 members. January 1921 was the passing away of Rhoda Fields Delong, the last remaining charter member.  Her funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Raybourn. 1930 brought about a meeting with the St. Charles Church of Christ and an offer to Rev. Randall to serve as the pastor to both churches.  And in 1931, the church became a member of the Congregational Christian merger.

 

Several elderly people of the church remember baptisms from the 1920’s and 1930’s.  Some people were baptized in ponds, some at other church’s “tanks”, and other records state that some occurred in South River. 

 

Late 1939 brought “fame” to the church as the Des Moines Register reported on Rev. and Mrs. Clayton Shepard’s "God’s Acre" plan for raising funds. Farmers were contacted earlier in the year to “set aside” one acre of corn for the church. The scheme was successful, netting over $500, enabling the church to pay off the mortgage and other bills. Fund raising in the 1940s under pastor Verne Wiley took the form of auction of donated items which has since prevailed.

 

The final merger leading to it becoming the Truro United Church of Christ took place in 1948. A year later the 50th anniversary of the building took place, attended by 20 members who were present when the building went into service 50 years before including, Will & Etta Archer, George Cooley, Ora & Daisy Creger, Linn & Addie Creger, Reuben Creger, Frank Burt, Ed & Ida Garst, Betty Hogue, Bert & Ann Patterson, Beryl Patterson, Frank & Susie Gracey, Nellie Fulton, and Ella & Florence Roby.

 

Listed below are the ministers in order of service with year(s) if known.

 

   Minister Year (s)    Minister Year (s)    Minister Year (s)
A. D. Kellison 1856 A C Burnham 1902 Clarence Moore 1951-1954 
William Deal   D W Thompson    Walter Schilling 1954-1956 
J G Bishop   A W Ricker  1908 Tom M King 1956
J H Creger   Roy C Helfenstein   Dale Lockart 1956-1961 
R A Creger   D Powell  1912 Robert Webber 1961-1962 
Joseph Anschultz   E E Bennett   Millard Marshall 1962-1963 
C C Rowley   Fred W Hagan 1914-1916  James Nicholson 1963-1967 
A Bradfield   S L Bougher 1916-1917  Richard Hempenius 1967-1976 
A H Chase   J W Garrett 1917-1918  David Wagner 1976-1979 
S O Calvin   Archimedes P Hurst 1918-1919  Gayle Strickler 1979
Rev. Boaz   C C Callahan Fall 1919  George W Campbell 1979-1982 
W C Smith   Russell L Raybourn 1920-1924  Janne Clinton 1982-1985 
W B Golden   Frederick Cooper 1924-1928  Ann Louise Weisenfluh 1986-1988 
J L Towner   O B Whittaker 1928 Tapiwa Mucherera 1989-1990 
Edward Fitzgerald   Rue Burnell 1928-1930  Selva Lehman 1990-1992 
Calvin Lamb 1898 I G Randell 1930-1934  Richard Harbart 1992-2001 
Paul W Jellison 1898-1899  Oscar V Rector 1935-1938  Roselyn Harbart 2001-2004 
John Reed 1899 Clayton P Shephard 1938-1942  Carol Iammatteo-Code 2004-2008 
O E Brown   William Van Vliedt 1942-1943  Shonda Deranleau 2008-present 
Alonzo Thomas 1900 Frederick Cooper 1945-1946     
William Bagley    Verne R Willey 1946-1951   

 

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Source:  Truro Congregational Christian United Church of Christ 1856-2006 Sesquicentennial Celebration: 150 years of God’s Blessings by Donna Crow, Church Historian


Maintained by the County Coordinator This page was created on December 10, 2010.
This page was last updated Saturday, 04-Feb-2023 15:35:22 CST .