IAGenWeb Project

Hamilton County IAGenWeb


Churches of Webster City, Iowa

By Martin E. Nass

Several of the churches will have pictures on this page. Three churches were meeting here when Webster City was named in 1857. The Congregational church was organized on August 12, 1855 by Rev. Thomas Skinner. They worshipped in various homes until 1862 when they purchased the old log schoolhouse. The Methodist Church was organized on January 2, 1857 by Rev. Donald Power Day. It met at the White Fox School for until 1862 when it moved into town. The Baptist church was organized on November 27, 1858 by Rev. O. A. Holmes. It met first in the John Rhodes home.

Church, Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa

The first church building that was constructed in Webster City was built by the Methodists in 1866. It was placed way out on the prairie, which today is the Middle School block just south of the present Asbury United Methodist Church site. It was called "The Church on the Prairie. The Congregational church built its first building three years later in 1869. The Baptist built their first church in 1874. For a time all three churches used the school house, the Rhodes building on Seneca Street, and the courtroom of our 1866 courthouse for services.

Methodist Church 1886, Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa

The second Methodist Church, built at the corner of Des Moines and Bank, was this structure. It was built in 1886 and served until 1912. The cost was $7,700 and was constructed during the pastorate of Rev. W. D. Phifer.

Methodist Church 1930, Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa

The third Methodist church was constructed on the site of the second church at the corner of Des Moines and Bank Streets. It was constructed in 1912 at a cost of $24,000 under the direction of Rev. C. H. Kamphoefner.

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