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 The
Christian church of Iowa City, Iowa, is fifty years old today. It was
organized on March 28, 1863, its house at the time being on the site of
the present church. The nucleus of the church came from Higbee's Grove
south of Iowa City, where an organization had been effected in 1856. In
1863, Mr. Kimball Porter purchased the Methodist church, situated on
Iowa avenue, and gave the proporty to the organization on condition
that it should remove to Iowa City, and re-organize as the lowa City
church. The following is the simple agreement entered into at that
time:
"We the undersigned, Disciples of Christ in Iowa City and
surrounding country have this day, March 28, 1863, entered into church
relationship with each other, the organization to be known as the
Church of Christ of Iowa City, Iowa, and we do hereby agree that in all
matters of faith and practice we will be governed by the Word of God
and that alone."
At this meeting and immediately following, 84 members signed
this simple statement of faith. Three of these 84 are still members in
the church--Mrs. G. W. Bale, Mr. E. Hinchcliffe and Mrs. O. T. Plum.
Shortly after its organization, the church called Mr. Samuel
Lowe to the pastorate. He remained but a few months and was succeeded
by his brother, Joseph Lowe, who remained with the church until 1866,
when the new organization seemed well on its feet and numbered 115
members.
Since 1866, eleven men have served the church as pastors. Mr.
John C. Hay came to the church in June, 1865, fresh from school and
spent some of his time with surrounding churches. His work seems to
have prospered exceedingly. Some 70 conversions were made in his three
years of service and about 30 came in by letter. Mr. Hay seemed also to
have aided in getting rid of some members who had evidently mistaken
the character and work of the new organization, Many removals also
occurred which together with the deaths, reduced the strength to 120
members.
Mr. Jesse Berry remained with the church less than a year and
was followed by J. Mad Williams who had shortly before graduated from
the university. (It is interesting to note the inheritable
characteristics in the Williams family. Among others their very
striking lack of humor and this one of preaching. All the sons, I think
began preaching when they put away the high chair). For two years until
his graduation, Mr. Williams remained as pastor, 1869-72, and was
followed by S. E. Pierre who likewise remained two years. These were
years of struggle in which many of the congregation were tried and
found wanting. Mr. Williams could find but 87 active members while
after Mr. Pierre left, the church was for some time without a minister.
As the record says "Failing in the meantime even to sustain the weekly
meeting of the members to partake of the Lord's Supper", though the
Sunday School was well supported.
In May, 1875, the congregation decided they must secure a
pastor and extended a call to W. Bayard Craig, who accepted and began
his ministry Sept. 1, 1875. At this time the church was at its lowest
ebb. No officers had been elected, no one seemed ready to accept the
responsibility and the membership had sunk to 68 members. It was not
until July, 1876, that the church seems to have succeeded in fully
reorganizing itself. The eldership was completely renewed because of
resignations or differences of opinion and only Peter Nipher remained,
who with J. H. Thornberry, W. Bayard Craig and Virgil Fry made up the
Board. After a further purging of the congregation W. B. Craig was
followed by O. P. Miller, who remained about two years, March 1882 to
April 1883. The sprinkling of names in the old register of those
baptized by Mr. Miller would indicate that the church went forward
during this time.
Had Mr. Miller done nothing more the fact that he performed
the ceremony which united in marriage Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Boernor, would
have been sufficient to have entitled him to a place in our record.
Among names of persons baptized appear the those of Alice Briggs, J. C.
Spencer, E. H. Williams, the Misses Mary, Alice and Clara Porter, May
Olinger, Mrs. A. P. Lake and Miss Anna J. Lake, Mrs. John Figg, Mrs.
Laura Burnett, W. G. Bale, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Bale and
Mrs. Ellen Van Fleet, in all 34 names.
The church entered upon a period of growth and prosperity. Mr.
Craig remained with the church nine years, gave it a good organization
and added about 250 members to its roll. The failure of his wife's
health brought his resignation in 1882.
The church then called Mr. F. B. Walker to the pastorate, a
young man just finishing his college work in Bethany. The agitation for
a new building was begun at once and in January 1887, the present
building was dedicated. Shortly after, Mr. Walker resigned, and was
succeeded by J. Mad Williams who again remained with the church two
years. This period is interesting from the fact that we have here the
first satisfactory trace of the original minutes, though they cover but
two meetings of the Board. The church, however, seems to have continued
ts steady growth, impelled largely by the strong interest of the young
people with whom Mr. Walker seems to have been very popular.
Mr. Walker was succeeded by Mr. M. S. Johnson who remained for
three years and did much to give to the church a knowledge of its
deeped spiritual character.
Brother T. J Dow who came to the church in 1892, remained with
it nine years. During this period all departments of the church took on
a new activity. The young people began probably their most conspicuous
period of activity and influence. At time in the history of the church
have the young people and student body worked together in such harmony
and acomplished so much in tho way of providing work in the church for
the young people. Nearly 400 were added to the membership in those nine
years and all departments of church work were well organized.
Mr. C. P. Leach began his pastorate in 1901 and remained with
the church until 1908. A young man with high ideals and thoroughly
practical in their application, Mr. Leach soon rallied the young people
about him and made of them in the Sunday School and the Y. P. S., C. E.
his loyal friends. Mr. Leach was essentially a teacher and under his
ministry the church grew steadily. One meeting held by Mr. Moninger
resulted in 102 additions to the church, 80 per cent coming from the
Sunday school and the Endeavor society. Mr. Leach served the church
from 1901 until January, 1908.
The present pastor, Mr C. C. Rowlison was called to the church
pastorate in January 1908. He was graduated at Eureka College and was
for some time a student at Harvard university. He came to the church at
the time of his resignation as president of Hiram College. He had
formerly been pastor of the First church, at Cedar Rapids, so that he
was not unacquainted with Iowa conditions nor with University problems.
Source: History of Christian Church of Iowa City, by: Prof. H. G. Plum; Iowa City Daily Press, Oct 13, 1913
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