MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA HISTORY

Pg 177

Trinity United Church of Christ, Moscow, Iowa
By Vesta Marolf

Transcribed by Lynn McCleary, April 18, 2015

     Trinity church, located 4 miles north of Moscow, has an interesting history. The church was chartered in 1897 under the pastoral leadership of Rev. J. C. Beade with 18 charter members. After worshipping in the South Union school house for approximately eight years, in October 1905, the cornerstone for the present church was laid. On May 13, 1906, the present church building was dedicated to the service of the Lord. On this day, 20 persons were received into membership of the church and the official roll was listed at 42 members.

     The official title of the church was Trinity Reformed Church, but in 1934 the Reformed Church in the United States merged with the Evangelical Synod of North America and thus was formed the Evangelical and Reformed Church, of which Trinity was a member…

Pg 178

…church. A later union of other denominations changed the official title again, to its present day name of Trinity United Church of Christ.

     Through the years Trinity Church has served the community well. The use of forty acres of farm ground was willed to the church by a John Evans family. This the congregation has farmed as a community project. The use of forty acres of timber pasture was also willed to the congregation by the same family and wood from this timber did, for many years, heat the church building and the pastor’s residence in Wilton. Should the church ever cease to hold services, this land, after a stated period of time, would return to the Evans heirs.

     Thirteen regular ministers and several supply ministers have served at Trinity church. The longest ministry was that of Rev. Harold Potts is the minister and the church is still united as a yoke parish with the Grace United Church of Christ in Wilton. The membership now is 30 communicant members.