History
of United Presbyterian Church
Goldfield,
Wright County, Iowa
Organized
March 1, 1884
| The United Presbyterian Church 220 East Oak Street P.O. Box 326 Goldfield, Iowa 50542 The United Presbyterian Church families arrived in Goldfield in 1881. At that time, their spiritual life was cared for by ministers of various denominations, who often came by horseback. They met in the school building located south of the present United Methodist Church. Many families were here to buy land to farm because of the artesian wells and the richness of the land. In 1883, land was selling for about $18.00 per acre. These families had a desire for a church of their choice, so they contacted the General Committee of Home Missions, at that time a branch of the Presbytery or Synod. Supply pastors were appointed and then sent to Goldfield. The First United Presbyterian Church of Goldfield was organized on Saturday, March 1, 1884, by the Rev. David Livingstone, Pastor of the Traer United Presbyterian Church, and Rev. James Duncan, and a member of the Cedar Rapids Presbytery. Rev. Duncan began his work here as a Stated Supply Pastor. On Sunday, March 2, 1884, the people met as a congregation and held their first Communion. March 1st and 2nd of 1884, was extremely muddy with "lots of hard weather." Mr. A.S. (Alexander Skinner) French, who planned on being a Charter member, was 13 days late in his arrival from Somonauk, Ill., due to the bad weather and very muddy impassable roads. The 13 original charter members were: Sara Dewell Martha McCutcheon William McCutcheon Alice Nicoll J. S. Nicoll Janet Pollock Robert Pollock Jane Stevenson John R. Stevenson E. J. Weeks Eliza Weeks Agnes Wilson W. W. Wilson Goldfield United Presbyterian Church is now starting the 6th generation of the original 13 in that "Cloud of Witnesses." Of interest: 12 of the original charter members were from Traer, Iowa. Mrs. Dewell was not from Traer, but from Tama County. Most of these 13 members were of Scottish descent. The church was called a "Prairie Mission" Church. It was the first building in the town of Goldfield in 1886. The cost was $2,100.00, including furniture. William McCutcheon and Robert Pollock signed the deed. Rev. W. T. Campbell, of Monmouth, Ill., preached the first sermon in 1886, from 1st Kings 9:3. "And the Lord said unto him (Solomon), 'I have heard thy prayers and supplications, that thou hast made before me; I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever, and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually'." The church had two rooms - the auditorium and the lecture room. It called its first minister in 1888, Rev. G. I. Findley. In 1889, the bronze bell was purchased. Today it stands at the east side of the church. It is a focal point of this church's heritage. The manse was built in 1896, for $1,200.00. The first Sabbath School began on April 16, 1893. It had 56 eager children attend in the latter 1890's. Will French and the boys from his Sunday School class built a classroom / kitchen on the northeast side of the church. In 1908, the current Sanctuary was built and it was dedicated in January 1909. It was at that time that the Canterbury stained glass windows were purchased. In 1947, the east basement was dug by hand. Over 100 men contributed, working 1,400 hours to finish the project. In the early 1950's, the west basement was dug with machines. In 1952, the Sanctuary was remodeled; the choir loft was added. In 1961, the Narthex and pastor's study were added. In 1974, a great deal of remodeling to the interior of the church was done. In 2000, the ROSE (Renewal, Outreach, Service, Education) Room, new pastor's office, new secretary's office, and restroom were added. The pastor's old office was remodeled into an additional restroom. Also added in recent years, was the Cross on the roof at the front of the church. Ministers over the past 125 years: Rev. G. I. Findley: 1888-1905 Rev. W. Z. Allen: 1906-1907 Rev. W. R. Irvine: 1908-1913 Rev. W. G. Comin: 1913-1923 Rev. R. M. McCracken: 1923-1936 Rev. J. T. Haupt: 1937-1943 Rev. R. A. Edie: 1944-1947 Rev. C. G. McKnight: 1947-1959 Rev. Kay V. Mills: 1959-1967 Rev. Marion Blake (Supply Minister): 1967-1968 Rev. Frank M. Elliot: 1968-1973 Rev. C. W. McConnelee: 1973-1979 Rev. Francis Thom: 1980-1982 Rev. Walter Morz (Interim Pastor): 1982-1984 Rev. Victor V. Victoria: 1984-1994 Dr. Nadim Saikaly, Stated Supply: Jan. 9 - Nov. 30, 1994 Rev. Ellen G. Brantley: Dec. 1, 1994-Aug. 14, 2003 Rev. Jim Seibert & Joyce Garton-Natte, CLP (Interim co-pastors): Feb. 1-June 30, 2004 Rev. Tamara EnTin: July 1, 2004-Jan. 3, 2007 Rev. Phil Somsen, Joyce Garton-Natte, CLP and Mr. Justin Asche, Applicant Lay Pastor (Interim pastors): March 1, 2007 to Sept. 15, 2010 Rev. Sara C.R. Hill: Oct. 1, 2010 to present. Mr. Justin Asche www.goldfieldupc.com/125th__Anniversary ***No longer working |