 Photo by Lynn McCleary | Sweetland United Methodist Church
1709 Sweetland Road |
1866 – 1991
Sunday, September 15, 1991
Submitted by Mary M. Elizabeth, April 15, 2012
The following information has been compiled from 25th, 50th, and 100th anniversary booklets of the Sweetland United Methodist Church.
The history of the Sweetland United Methodist Church goes beyond 1866 to the very beginning of Methodism in Iowa. In February of 1837 Daniel Cartwright and Chauncey Hobart, circuit riders from the Rockingham Circuit, Illinois Conference, traveled into the territory. They came to Casey’s landing, which at that time had about 100 residents, and preached to a small group. They then traveled on to what is now Moscow and preached the following night. They preached in several homes between the Iowa and Wapsipinicon Rivers, forming a circuit called the Iowa River Mission.
On August 14, 1844, at Iowa City, the first Iowa Conference was organized. The Iowa Conference Journal for 1845 shows Bloomington District with the first record of an appointment called Salem Mission, with Rev. Jon Dennis the preacher. In 1846 this mission became Fairport when the name of the town was changed to Fairport. In 1847 Fairport and Cedar Mission were joined together with two pastors appointed to serve.
The conference changed in 1849 and Muscatine and Cedar Mission were listed under the Iowa City District. In 1850 the Conference Journal shows Fairport and Muscatine listed under the Dubuque District. In 1853 the appointment for the Muscatine Circuit appears on the record. The churches in this circuit, as near as can be found, consisted of Cedar Bridge, High Prairie, Lucas Grove, Unity and North Prairie. Muscatine and Fairport were listed among the appointments. In 1855 the annual conference journal for the Iowa Conference listed a District called Muscatine District.
In the year 1866 we begin the actual history of the Sweetland United Methodist Church. From this time on there are very complete records to show the growth of the church. The church had many of the original documents and a complete set of all Quarterly Conference Records from the First Quarterly Conference, Nov. 1, 1866, through the 4th Quarterly Conference of 1908. From that time on there are a few records missing but not enough so that a fairly accurate history cannot be given. The first three membership books for the Sweetland Center Circuit have also been preserved, which give us accurate record of the first members.
The original deed for the church property shows that on June 18, 1866, Samuel and Louisa McFarland sold to the Trustees of the Sweetland Center Church 1 and 1/8 acres of land, for the purpose of building a house of worship thereon, for the sum of $56.00 with a $1.00 recording fee. It is filed for record on June 23, 1866, at 2:30 o’clock and recorded in Book 3 of Lands on page 559 and 560 and is signed Charles S. Foster, Recorder. It carries a 50 cent Internal Revenue stamp. An article of incorporation was issued to the Sweetland Center Methodist Church Association and has been preserved through the years.
The Iowa Conference Annual Journal reports an appointment was made of Rev. A.W. Stryker to Sweetland Circuit. It also asked that Conference Claims for the new circuit be set at $20.00 for the first year. According to the first membership record book, Sweetland Center Circuit consisted of five classes or churches as preaching places. These places were Sweetland Center, Hanes Hill, Oakdale, Melpine and Fairport.
At the Annual Conference held in September 1867 the following reports are listed:
| Conference claims paid | $15.00 |
| Missions paid | $46.00 |
| Salary paid | $800.00 |
At the second Quarterly conference held February 14, 1874, a committee on parsonage was appointed and instructed to collect or borrow money and purchase lumber to build a parsonage. The original bill of sale has been preserved and it shows that Elizabeth Moss sold ¾ of an acre of land joining the church lot at Sweetland for the sum of $37.50 on April 8, 1875. The parsonage was built during the summer of 1875. The record of the 4th quarterly conference August 5, 1876, shows a debt of the parsonage of $200.00.
Somebody must have been using the church yard for a pasture, for the Trustee’s report of Sept. 25, 1887 carries the notation, “no livestock of any kind is to be allowed to run the church yard.”
On December 10, 1891, an Epworth League was organized at Sweetland Church. The church property must have been used for many things for the report of Rev. A.M. Smith of May 26, 1894, states “the parsonage lot is not the place to keep the road grader and horses and other things of the road district.” A committee was asked to have them removed as tactfully as possible. It is also noted at one meeting that no motorized vehicles were to be allowed in the church yard. The reason for this was that a horseless carriage came in and scared the horses.
In the summer of 1913 the Ladies Aid of the Sweetland Church undertook an extensive improvement program which included raising the church and putting in the basement, furnace, and a gas plant to take care of the cooking and lighting. This was done for an approximate cost of $1,700.00. In August of 1918 a hail storm damaged the church and parsonage. In 1920 a new kitchen and a porch were added to the parsonage.
From May 28 to June 5th, 1916, during the pastorate of Henry C. Millice, Sweetland observed its 50th Anniversary.
In 1931 Sweetland Center was added to the Muscatine North Circuit, which consisted of Park Ave., Spangler Chapel and Sweetland, under the appointment of Rev. James Worrell. In 1932 the Iowa Conference united with the Des Moines conference and became the Iowa-Des Moines Conference.
During the next few years many improvements were made to the Sweetland Church. Electric lights and a water system were installed. The interior was redecorated, the pulpit platform was raised, the windows were refitted with panes of stained glass, a new furnace was installed and the building was reroofed and painted on the outside. In 1934 two long rows of sheds which provided shelter and shade for the horses were torn down and a row of trees was planted in their place.
In 1941 Sweetland observed its Diamond Anniversary with a week-long celebration from June 22 to 29.
In 1950 the men of the Sweetland Church tore the old platform from the front of the church and put in the first major addition on the church at a cost of about $17,000. This consisted of an addition to the north side of the church with a new entrance into the church and an enlargement of the basement. Restrooms and a new furnace room were included in the basement as well as classrooms on the floors above.
In 1953 we find the addition of the High Prairie Church to the Muscatine North Parish. The appointments then called for a pastor and an associate pastor, one to live in the Park Avenue parsonage and one to live in the Sweetland parsonage.
The decision was made in February of 1964 to build an educational unit as an addition to the present church. Additional land was purchased at $500.00 per acre to the east and south of the church. On July of 1964 the work began on removing of trees and digging of a basement. During the fall of 1964 and winter of 1964-65 a 3 story addition was built onto the church. It consisted of 9 classrooms, a new restroom a new pastor’s study, many closets for storage, and the extension of the sanctuary of the church by building, a new chancel into the addition. Many hours of volunteer labor went into the building which helped to minimize the cost, making the cost of the addition $30,037.00. This cost was pledged and raised in order to dedicate the new addition on the day of the centennial observance May 22, 1966.
In 1968 Park Avenue was dropped from the parish, leaving Sweetland, Spangler Chapel and High Prairie. In 1969 The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church joined to become The United Methodist Church. In 1971 High Prairie was dropped from the parish and Peace was added.
A new parsonage was built in 1969, with help from men in the congregation, at a cost of $20,000. In 1978 the old serving windows were removed from the church kitchen and one long serving window was installed. At this time the ceiling in the basement was lowered. A new organ was purchased in 1975. In the fall of 1983 a new steeple and carrilon were added to the church. In the early 1980’s a kitchenette and restroom were put in on the main floor of the church. Cealing fans were put in the sanctuary in 1984. A chairlift was put on the back steps in 1986. In the 1980’s aluminum siding was put on the church. A new roof was put on in 1989.
In 1989 it was decided that the person in the position of Sunday School Superintendent should be paid. With attendance across the parish increasing in 1991, a half-time pastor was hired to assist with pastoral duties.
In 1991 the sanctuary was renovated. The stairway in the southwest corner of the sanctuary was closed off to the main floor. The cornstalk board was removed from the walls, and the line of the ceiling was changed to correspond with the chancel. The sanctuary was plastered and painted and new oak woodwork was added. New carpet, light fixtures, and stained glass windows were installed. The pews were all refinished. This project was entirely financed by bequest and memorials. Mike TeStrake, a member of the Sweetland Church, was the contractor in charge of this renovation. Wendy Sywassink designed the stained glass windows. Other committee members were Gordon Day, Chrm.; Jim Kamper, Jon Topp, Don Lindle, Florence Shepard, Dianne Glenney and Rev. Andrea Bishop.
| Almond Stryker | 1866 | J.W. Stine | 1918 | |
| J.M. Coats | 1867 | P.B. Gray | 1919 | |
| William Posten | 1869 | J.C. Bruvold | 1924 | |
| Joseph Gastner | 1870 | R.T. Richards | 1826 | |
| B.F. Karnes | 1871 | George G. Hunt | 1927 | |
| C.S. Jennis | 1874 | A.F. Polk | 1928 | |
| J.T. McFarland | 1875 | James A. Worrell | 1931 | |
| S. Hestwood | 1876 | C.H. Hiller | 1936 | |
| A. McClintock | 1876 | Charles B. Rayhill | 1940 | |
| D.C. Bevin | 1879 | James Sloan | 1948 | |
| R.J. Kenyon | 1880 | Lester W. Moore | 1953 | |
| A.V. Frances | 1881 | Lowen Kruse | ||
| W.A. Swain | 1882 | Lester W. Moore | 1956 | |
| C.R. Norton | 1883 | Stanley Kennedy | ||
| J.L. King | 1886 | Stanley Kennedy | 1957 | |
| I.B. Schreckengast | 1888 | James Stewart | ||
| A.M. Smith | 1891 | Stanley Kennedy | 1958 | |
| J.M. McClelland | 1894 | Stephen R. Root, Jr. | ||
| H.R. Osborn | 1897 | Stephen R. Root, Jr. | 1961 | |
| L.A. Crull | 1899 | Leland L. Enke | ||
| W.E. Howe | 1901 | Leland L. Enke | 1964 | |
| J.R. Hanley | 1902 | Thomas E. Hotle | ||
| F.R. Morrison | 1904 | Leland L. Enke | 1968 | |
| E.A. Brinton | 1906 | Donald Wooge | 1969 | |
| A.L. Jordan | 1907 | Dale Ellsworth | 1974 | |
| R.J. Fisher | 1908 | Leland Eyres | 1979 | |
| R.C. Russell | 1909 | Andrea Bishop | 1990 | |
| W.E. Berg | 1910 | Andrea Bishop | 1991 | |
| J.J. Pritchard | 1912 | Craig Arms | ||
| Henry C. Millice | 1915 |
The present staff at Sweetland United Methodist Church are:
| Pastor | Andrea K. Bishop |
| Assistant Pastor | Craig A. Arms |
| Sunday School Superintendent | Renee Andreas |
| Secretary | Carolyn Lemaster |
Old records show that in the early 1890’s the Sweetland Center Church had a Women’s Foreign Missionary society and shortly thereafter a group that was called by the well-known name of Ladies Aid Society.
In 1940 the Women’s Society of Christian Service was formed, known as WSCS.
The “U.M.W.”, United Methodist Women, was formed in 1973.
Various forms of raising money over the years were serving chicken suppers and serving lunch at farm sales. In 1946 the ladies started serving and managing the lunch room at the Sweetland Livestock Auction Sales. In 1969 the first Sweetland Bazaar was organized. The Bazaar has become an annual affair each year, held the first Wednesday of November.
The present officers of United Methodist Women are:
| President: | Ella Mae Hetzler |
| Vice-President: | Joyce Kemper |
| Secretary | Shirley Burr |
| Treasurer | Willodene Lindle |
| Membership | Renee Andreas |
| Program Resources | Marj VanCamp |
| Nominations: | Renee Andreas |
| Carrie Hetzler | |
| Betty Brink | |
| Standing Rules | Beverly Sywassink |
| Local Projects | Wendy Sywassink |
| Historian | Eva Borgstadt |
| Projects | Emma Shoppa |
| Mission Coordinators - | |
| Christian Personhood | Mildred Glenney |
| Supportive Community | Marguerite Grete |
| Social Involvement | Miriam Collier |
| Christian Global Concerns | Marilyn Stammer |
A PARISH-WIDE u.m.t.f. (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) meets twice a month for fellowship, Bible Study, and outside activities. Adult leaders are Renee Andreas, Carolyn Lemaster, Cindy Axtell, Barb Reesink, and Julia Kallenberger.
In June of 1989, a youth clown ministry troupe, the North Parish Clowns, was form with the leadership of Barbara TeStrake and Gwen Pedrich. During the past 2 years this group has led an active ministry in nursing homes, the University hospitals, other local church worship services and has participated in local church Vacation Bible Schools. A second troupe of youth clowns, the Kaleidoscope Klowns, under the leadership of Carolyn Lemaster and Denise Kemper, was formed in June 1990, following in the footsteps of the first troupe.
James and Marjorie VanCamp, Chrm.; Everett Nitzel, Ella Mae Hetzler, Steve & Marla Lick, Gladys Mittman, Gordon & Ruth Day, Florence Shepard, Ralph Sywassink, Miriam Collier, Betty Brink, Carolyn Lemaster, Kick & Marilyn Stammer, Eva Borgstadt, Janelle Nehas, Darlene Mayerhofer.
OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATOR BOARD 1991
| Pastor | Andrea K. Bishop |
| Chairperson | Jon Topp |
| Vice-Chairperson | Mike TeStrake |
| Recording Secretary | Carolyn Lemaster |
| Lay Leader | Max Churchill |
| Lay Member to Annual Conference | Max Churchill |
| Chairperson of Trustees | James VanCamp |
| Chairperson of Finance | Merle Glenney |
| Secretary of Nominations | Ruth Day |
| Church Treasurer | Weldon Martz |
| Financial Secretary | Denise Kemper |
| Council of Ministries Chairperson | Marjorie VanCamp |
| Membership Chairperson | Marilyn Stammer |
| Secretary/Treasurer of Trustees | Sharon Dahms |
| U.M.W. President | Ella Mae Hetzler |
| Chrm. Of Pastor-Parish Relations | Wayne Mittman |
| Members-at-Large: | |
| 1991 – Sharon Dahms | |
| 1992 – Marla Lick, Roy Nehas | |
| 1993 – Verle Sywassink, Warren Collier | |
| Youth Representatives: | |
| Kerry Lemaster | |
| Chad Shoppa |
| Chairpersons of Work Areas: | |
| Evangelism | Gladys Mittman |
| Missions | Barb TeStrake |
| Worship | Elizabeth Martz & Ruth Day |
| Christian Education | Renee Andreas |
| Board of Trustees: | |
| 1991 – Sharon Dahms. Everett Nitzel, James VanCamp | |
| 1992 – Gordon Day, Don Lindle, Ella Mae Hetzler | |
| 1993 – Daryl Sywassink, Dwight Glenney, Joanne TeStrake |
| Pastor-Parish Relations: | |
| 1991 – Wayne Mittman, Barb Gunther | |
| 1992 – Mildred Glenney, Ralph Sywassink | |
| 1993 – Kim Kemper |
Page created April 26, 2012 by Lynn McCleary