The early settlers of Grand River Township felt that there should be a church in Macksburg as a circuit rider from Winterset had been through this community and preaching in homes and any available place. So a few loyal souls came and brought their gifts and worked together so they might have a church for themselves and for generations to come.

They organized on September 20, 1872, the church was built in 1876, with the following as charter members: Dr. and Mrs. Commack, Mr. and Mrs. M. Osborn, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Conway, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Badley, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Ballard, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Helnick and Mr. and Mrs. William Bennett.

Dr. and Mrs. Mack joined these friends later on and Dr. Mack deeded the land, where the present church stands, to the Methodist organization. Later they donated two lots and a house for a parsonage.

In 1914, the church was rebuilt and in tearing away part of the structure, cornstalks, which were well preserved, were found, thus denoting the plot had been a cornfield.

At one time this church was one of five appointments the pastor had. Macksburg, Dodge Center, West Branch, Pleasant View and Kasson. Later, Dodge Center was added to the Afton charge. Interest gradually dwindled in the other four and they were sold, except for Pleasant View which disbanded, was torn down and the lumber used to remodel the Macksburg church in 1928-29.

Later, another addition was begun in the fall of 1947. One Sunday School room was furnished by children of Rev. Claude and Mrs. Calkins under whose leadership the church was at that time.

In the fall of 1952, after a very successful God’s portion sale, and under the efforts of Rev. C. M. Rowe and the devotion of members and friends a complete redecorating project was completed. This project included new ceiling of insulation blocks, new lights, paint, venetian blinds, and a new altar in the sanctuary along with other things to make our house a place of beauty and reverence.

Many memorials have been given to our church by the families of the deceased. Among these were the altar, the Church Sunday School class room, curtains, Baptismal Font, to name a few. The Methodist Youth Fellowship contributed beautiful new front doors to the structure in the fall of 1965.

Macksburg United Methodist Pastors

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