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CLEARFIELD UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH HISTORY (Updated December 2006) 1882 -2007 Methodism
in the Clearfield Community is 125 years old in 2007. The first of the churches was dedicated in the spring of 1883, after
being built and used in the year before. The building was used for 20
years and a second church was then dedicated in February, 1903. The brick church that most of us are familiar
with was dedicated in 1910. In 1875
or before, a rural schoolhouse was built about 1 ˝ miles east of where
Clearfield stands and was called “Moffett School.”
A preacher named Caldwell, came on alternate Sunday afternoons
from nearby Mt Ayr to Moffett School and Bethel on east. Families joining this group were W.D. Richards, Aaron Nash, Milo
Witter Sr., Lon Swartwood, Jim Elwell, Frank Bennett, and Mrs. Lizzie
Utter, Moffetts, Nevills and Cochrans.
This group came to town, as the town was platted in August of
1881, during the winter of 1881 and 1882 and the services were held
in the Hardware Store of Sowers and Carson. This
stood on the N.W. corner of mainstreet where the Doctor/Dentist office
was in later years. Planks were
placed on nail kegs of the hardware store for seating.
A school of 100 was soon meeting there. When
the church was dedicated on September 18, 1883, Clearfield became part
of a circuit with Lenox and Calvary Churches and remained so until the
Conference of 1889 when a new circuit was composed of Clearfield, Calvary
and Highland Churches. The Kent
Church was included later. There
have been 4 church buildings. The
first, a one room frame building built in 1882.
It was torn down in 1902 and the material used in the building
of the second church which cost $5,950.00. This
church burned near midnight on December 23rd, 1909. Services were held in the United Presbyterian
and Baptist churches until the new brick church was dedicated on November
27, 1910. The building committee
C. W. Edwards, R.E. Busby and Fred Rood. Total cost was about $12,000.00. Mrs. John Reed is said to have
attended all 3 church dedications.
The people from Grant Center church in Ringgold County joined
us in 1924. Greenwood Church came to us in 1927 and people
from Calvary Church in 1951. Many people, including some of us today,
have special memories of the “old brick church.” Some of these being… Box suppers,
Mother/Daughter and Father/Son banquets, the old “outhouse”, the old
pump north of the church, renovation of the kitchen, Water
in the basement, heavy rolling
doors in east room, orchestra, cradle roll and certificates, Christmas/Easter
cantata’s and the January auction to raise money.
Due to the condition and cost of repair, a new church was proposed
and on August 31, 1986 a ground breaking ceremony was held with Rev.
Bill Cotton in attendance. The
new church building was under the guidance of Pastor Duane Ferguson
and Leroy Beggs, Ad. Bd. Chair and construction was soon under
way. This new church building
was dedicated on July 26, 1987. The
first church service was held in the new church Memorial weekend, 1987. A lot of fellowship, laughter, prayer, healing,
love and memories are framed in this building! As soon as the church was completed, at a cost
of around $130.000.00, it was
decided to begin the addition of an Education Wing. The Sunday School
addition was dedicated on September 25, 1988. The only addition since that time was a bathroom in the south wing,
given by memorial money of the Paul England Family. This brings us to the year 2007, which we anticipate
and will celebrate 125 years of Methodism in this community. TIMELINE FOR CLEARFIELD UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH 1771 – First Methodist missionaries sent
to America December 24, 1784 – Baltimore “Christmas
Conference” the first organizing conference. Asbury ordained bishop: church was named the
“Methodist Episcopal Church” 1830 – Reform minded group left MEC and
started the Methodist Protestant Church. 1845 – Slavery issue caused another split
resulting in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 1939 – MEC, MEC South and MPC reunited
to form the Methodist Church. (April
1968, the Evangelical United Brethren merged with the Methodist Church
to form the United Methodist Church.) 1881-1882 – Group meets east of Clearfield
in the country and moves into town during the winter to Sowers/Carson
Hardware store. 1882 – The framed wooden building is constructed
on a purchased lot in Clearfield Iowa. September, 1883 – The first Methodist
church building was dedicated. 1902 – The first church was torn down
to build a larger Methodist church using material from old Methodist
church. 1904 – Ladies Aid Societies were recognized
officially. February 1903 – Second church was dedicated
at a cost of $5,950.00 Near midnight, December 23, 1909 – church
burned to ground. Services held at United Presbyterian and Baptist
churches. November 27, 1910 – The third church (brick)
is dedicated at a cost of about $12,000.00. 1921 – The Wesleyan Service Guild is organized
for working women of the homes. 1922 – Highland church people joined the
Methodist group in Clearfield. 1923 – People from the Grant Center church
in Ringgold County joined the Methodists in Clearfield. Helen Lyddon remembers the “Standard Bearers” youth group about this time. 1927 – Some Baptists and the Greenwood
church people joined the Methodists.
Epworth League, & MYF were youth organizations in these years. 1951 – Some from Calvary church joined
the Methodists in Clearfield. 1957 – 75th anniversary celebration. 1964 – United Presbyterian Church closed
and some joined the Methodist Church. 1968 – The Methodist and EUB churches
became the United Methodist Church.
W.S.C.S (Women’s Society of Christian Service) is formed. 1977 – The women’s organizations in the
United Methodist church merge to form one inclusive organization with
the name “UMW.” (United Methodist Women.) 1982 – The town celebrates 100 years and
the church is also100 years old. August 31, 1986 – The present church has
ground breaking ceremony. Memorial weekend, 1987 – first church
service held in the new church. July 26, 1987 – Present church had dedication
service. September 25, 1988 – Dedication of Education
Wing of present church. 1992 – 110 year celebration, a church
cookbook was made. Most recent District Superintendent’s Rev. Melvin Ammon (present) Rev. Charles Luers Rev. Tompsie Smith Rev. Bill Cotton Rev. Richard Phalzgraff Living Pastors at this time, January 2007. Gerry Kahler Darrell Boe (Assistant Pastor to Gerry
Kahler 2005) (Ron Carlson assistant to Gerry Kahler
2006) Len Garrison Alan Rusk Duane Ferguson Jim Turner Herbert Phillips Ronald Kinzler Karl Watkins Kevin Hoffman Helen Brown (wife of LaMonte Brown) |