West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
HISTORY of the CHURCH of CHRIST

During the year 1862 some disciples of Christ held religious services in the school house near the home of William Phillips on South Prairie.

This little group continued to meet at intervals during 1863 and the winter of 1863 and 1864 organized a Church of Christ. They followed the example of the Church as it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, as to officers and teaching and practice.

The following were charter members of this church : Mr. Barnes; William and Rachel Hise; James Ball and wife and daughter Lizzie; J. S. Wilson and wife; Frank Grant and wife; Dr. Edwin Younkin and wife; Maria Miller and Adda Keith. William Hise was chosen Elder and Dr. Younkin and J. S. Wilson were chosen Deacons.

Evangelistic services from time to time increased the membership of the church. In 1868 they decided to erect a building. Through earnestness and sacrifice they were enabled to build it that year. It was located on Sixth St. between Calhoun and Spencer streets, where the present building stands and was dedicated January 10, 1869.

The church used that building for about eighteen years. But they were growing in numbers and it was evident that they needed a larger church. So they moved their building back and erected a larger church, where it stood. Dedicatory services were held January 1, 1887. The former building was used for Bible school.

Improvements were made from time to time and the church now has the auditorium and ten well equipped Bible school rooms, furnace and fuel rooms and kitchen and dining room.

The first parsonage was erected on the southwest corner of Calhoun street and Maxson avenue. Mrs. Samuel Satterthwait, a devoted member of the church, at her death bequeathed a considerable sum of money and her home at Fourth and Columbus streets to the church for use as a parsonage. The church then sold its parsonage and modernized this new home for a parsonage and it is still used as the home for the minister's family.

The church has endeavored all through the years as a Church of Christ, to serve the community. Its constant aim is to opbey the commission of Christ when he told his disciples: Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptising them into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always. Mat.28:18;20.

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