St. John's United Church of Christ of Siegel
Encyclopedia
St. John's United Church of Christ is a church in Douglas Township
in Bremer County, Iowa. Founded in 1874 by German settlers in the area of the now-defunct town of Siegel
. The church has been in continuous operation and remains active, although the membership has declined from its high in the 1920s.
, 18 members under the leadership of Reverend P. Hagemann broke away to form St. John's United Church of Christ of Siegel on February 22, 1874. The first pastor was Rev. David Kurz.
The founding members secured a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) plot in Douglas Township in Bremer County on which they proceeded to build a church with living quarters for the minister in the rear and cemetery. In 1889, during the tenure of Rev. John Reinecke, the church built a separate parsonage. In 1897, a schoolhouse was built to the south of the church and parsonage. In 1922, the current church building was dedicated and in 1924, the church celebrated its 50th anniversary. The current parsonage was built in 1925.
The church was originally affiliated with the German Evangelical Synod of North America, which joined with another denomination of German background, the Reformed Church in the United States
, to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church
in 1934. This church united in 1957 with the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
to form the United Church of Christ
.
At its largest, the church had a membership of almost 400 members in the 1920s.
education program. The pastor is the Rev. Eugene Walther, a native of the area, who was called to the church in 1973.
Douglas Township, Bremer County, Iowa
Douglas Township is one of fourteen townships in Bremer County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 405.-Geography:Douglas Township covers an area of and contains no incorporated settlements. According to the USGS, it contains four cemeteries: Alcock, Saint Johns Lutheran, St...
in Bremer County, Iowa. Founded in 1874 by German settlers in the area of the now-defunct town of Siegel
Siegel, Iowa
Siegel is a ghost town in Douglas Township in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1889, the community ceased to exist in the 1940s. Today all this left of the settlement is St. John's United Church of Christ of Siegel.-Geography:...
. The church has been in continuous operation and remains active, although the membership has declined from its high in the 1920s.
History of the church
German settlers in the area of Siegel formed St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Siegel, in 1872. When differences arose either over a conflict concerning the burial of one of the members of that church or due to dogmatic differences between adherents of the Lutheran church and those of the German Evangelical Synod of North AmericaEvangelical Synod of North America
The Evangelical Synod of North America, before 1927 German Evangelical Synod of North America, in German Evangelische Synode von Nord-Amerika, was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States existing from the mid-19th century until its 1934 merger with the Reformed Church in the...
, 18 members under the leadership of Reverend P. Hagemann broke away to form St. John's United Church of Christ of Siegel on February 22, 1874. The first pastor was Rev. David Kurz.
The founding members secured a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) plot in Douglas Township in Bremer County on which they proceeded to build a church with living quarters for the minister in the rear and cemetery. In 1889, during the tenure of Rev. John Reinecke, the church built a separate parsonage. In 1897, a schoolhouse was built to the south of the church and parsonage. In 1922, the current church building was dedicated and in 1924, the church celebrated its 50th anniversary. The current parsonage was built in 1925.
The church was originally affiliated with the German Evangelical Synod of North America, which joined with another denomination of German background, the Reformed Church in the United States
Reformed Church in the United States
The Reformed Church in the United States is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. The present RCUS is a conservative, Calvinist denomination. It affirms the principles of the Reformation: Sola scriptura , Solo Christo , Sola gratia , Sola fide , and Soli Deo gloria...
, to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church
Evangelical and Reformed Church
The Evangelical and Reformed Church was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. It was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States with the Evangelical Synod of North America . After the 1934 merger, a minority within the RCUS seceded in order to...
in 1934. This church united in 1957 with the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
Congregational Christian Churches
The Congregational Christian Churches were a Protestant Christian denomination that operated in the U.S. from 1931 through 1957. On the latter date, most of its churches joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church in a merger to become the United Church of Christ. Others created the National...
to form the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
.
At its largest, the church had a membership of almost 400 members in the 1920s.
Today
St. John's Church has about 80 members and an active ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
education program. The pastor is the Rev. Eugene Walther, a native of the area, who was called to the church in 1973.
Sources
- Atlas of Bremer County, Iowa, Title Atlas Company, Inc., 1983, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- St. John's United Church of Christ of Siegel History, 1874-1974