Our History
One hundred twenty-five years ago, several folks in Cedar Falls felt the need for a Christian Church. There were several other churches in Cedar Falls at the time, but none like the Christian Church. With the assistance of Drake University in Des Moines, a month long series of tent meetings were held on 2nd and Washington Streets. The outcome of these meetings was that on July 23, 1895, twenty-four persons were baptized in the mill race at the Cedar River.
The church met irregularly at first, sometimes in homes and sometimes in the Unitarian Church. By 1906 services were held in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoons. When a baptistery was needed, the Danish Baptist Church was rented. By 1907, the congregation had purchased the Presbyterian church between 6th & 7th on Main.
The first parsonage was purchased at 611 W 12th in 1923. Rev. Gillette was the first resident. By 1932, records indicate our congregation was called the First Church of Christ. Several outreach endeavors were going on by this time. Money was sent to the Near East Relief and the Noxubee Industrial School in McLeod, Mississippi, among others.
When Rev Gillette resigned, the new preacher was found by asking several prospective ministers to come to Cedar Falls, usually by train, to preach a couple of sermons on a Sunday. Eventually one was settled upon and he took up residency in the parsonage. That building was sold in 1931. Around 1947, a member left in her will, a home at 2310 College St. That became the new Parsonage for a time.
By 1948, records began to indicate the congregation was known as the Church of Christ “Disciples”. Members were active in Sunday School, Ladies Aid Society, Men’s Bible Study, Youth Group, Choir and other endeavors.
By 1950, the members began to think about a better church building and the Trustees were instructed to investigate the possibilities of the Episcopal Church on 7th Street. The letterhead of our church stationery recorded that we are now called First Christian Church, “Where you are a stranger but once.”
A Long Range Planning Committee was formed to begin looking at sites to relocate our congregation in November of 1954. In the fall of ‘55, the congregation voted to purchase ½ block at 11th & Division. The parsonage was built first and was dedicated on June 26, 1957 and the first residents were the Lewis E Crase Jr. family. Along with Rev. Crase’s leadership, our church slowly began to change its structure. We were now served by Functional Committees and a Pastor’s Cabinet.
In the meantime, our old building was sold sooner than planned and we had to hustle to find space to hold worship services on Sundays. On May 5, 1960, Pres. Mauker from ISTC offered to rent auditorium space at Malcomb Price Lab School to hold worship for 1 year. The congregation quickly finished the parsonage so that meetings could be held in the parsonage basement. The Crases moved into the upstairs and our church offices moved into the basement. Plans for the new church building were approved by the congregation and ground breaking for the building itself took place on March 19, 1961. In the meantime, our one year agreement with ISTC for the use of Price Lab school was ended so we held worship services in the lunchroom of Peet Junior High until Oct 15, 1961.
First services were held in Fellowship Hall that day and we had moved. Two worship services were scheduled on Sunday mornings to contain all the worshippers. Soon plans were discussed to add a sanctuary on to the west end of our building. Ground breaking for the new addition was held Nov 5, 1967, and it was completed in 1968. The first worship service was held in the sanctuary on Oct 20, 1968.
Time continued to bring change to our congregation when our first two women elders were chosen in 1975, Bertha Schwanke and Pat Vanderwerf. Along about this time, it became evident that a new organ was needed to replace the old well worn organ. Glenn Futrell designed and cast pendants and belt buckles that were then ground, polished and lacquered by members of the choir and any who would help. These were sold to help secure the new organ.
1987 saw us doing a bit of tweaking on our building by removing the stage in the fellowship hall, allowing more floor space in the hall and the addition of two new classrooms. In 1987 the wood was used to build choir robe closets and for shelving. Handbells were discussed in 1988, a 25 bell set with tables , and were soon purchased.
We were not finished with the work on the building however. In 1992, the congregation voted to accept remodeling plans presented by the building committee. This remodel would include increased classroom space, an elevator to reach all levels of the building, new offices for the minister and secretary and a new church library. Ground breaking for this latest endeavor was in 1994. When completed, it created a wonderful new look to our place of worship. A few years ago, we remodeled again but this time it was the sanctuary that underwent a major change. We feel it is a friendly atmosphere to worship and to continue to grow in our Christian experience.
The church met irregularly at first, sometimes in homes and sometimes in the Unitarian Church. By 1906 services were held in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoons. When a baptistery was needed, the Danish Baptist Church was rented. By 1907, the congregation had purchased the Presbyterian church between 6th & 7th on Main.
The first parsonage was purchased at 611 W 12th in 1923. Rev. Gillette was the first resident. By 1932, records indicate our congregation was called the First Church of Christ. Several outreach endeavors were going on by this time. Money was sent to the Near East Relief and the Noxubee Industrial School in McLeod, Mississippi, among others.
When Rev Gillette resigned, the new preacher was found by asking several prospective ministers to come to Cedar Falls, usually by train, to preach a couple of sermons on a Sunday. Eventually one was settled upon and he took up residency in the parsonage. That building was sold in 1931. Around 1947, a member left in her will, a home at 2310 College St. That became the new Parsonage for a time.
By 1948, records began to indicate the congregation was known as the Church of Christ “Disciples”. Members were active in Sunday School, Ladies Aid Society, Men’s Bible Study, Youth Group, Choir and other endeavors.
By 1950, the members began to think about a better church building and the Trustees were instructed to investigate the possibilities of the Episcopal Church on 7th Street. The letterhead of our church stationery recorded that we are now called First Christian Church, “Where you are a stranger but once.”
A Long Range Planning Committee was formed to begin looking at sites to relocate our congregation in November of 1954. In the fall of ‘55, the congregation voted to purchase ½ block at 11th & Division. The parsonage was built first and was dedicated on June 26, 1957 and the first residents were the Lewis E Crase Jr. family. Along with Rev. Crase’s leadership, our church slowly began to change its structure. We were now served by Functional Committees and a Pastor’s Cabinet.
In the meantime, our old building was sold sooner than planned and we had to hustle to find space to hold worship services on Sundays. On May 5, 1960, Pres. Mauker from ISTC offered to rent auditorium space at Malcomb Price Lab School to hold worship for 1 year. The congregation quickly finished the parsonage so that meetings could be held in the parsonage basement. The Crases moved into the upstairs and our church offices moved into the basement. Plans for the new church building were approved by the congregation and ground breaking for the building itself took place on March 19, 1961. In the meantime, our one year agreement with ISTC for the use of Price Lab school was ended so we held worship services in the lunchroom of Peet Junior High until Oct 15, 1961.
First services were held in Fellowship Hall that day and we had moved. Two worship services were scheduled on Sunday mornings to contain all the worshippers. Soon plans were discussed to add a sanctuary on to the west end of our building. Ground breaking for the new addition was held Nov 5, 1967, and it was completed in 1968. The first worship service was held in the sanctuary on Oct 20, 1968.
Time continued to bring change to our congregation when our first two women elders were chosen in 1975, Bertha Schwanke and Pat Vanderwerf. Along about this time, it became evident that a new organ was needed to replace the old well worn organ. Glenn Futrell designed and cast pendants and belt buckles that were then ground, polished and lacquered by members of the choir and any who would help. These were sold to help secure the new organ.
1987 saw us doing a bit of tweaking on our building by removing the stage in the fellowship hall, allowing more floor space in the hall and the addition of two new classrooms. In 1987 the wood was used to build choir robe closets and for shelving. Handbells were discussed in 1988, a 25 bell set with tables , and were soon purchased.
We were not finished with the work on the building however. In 1992, the congregation voted to accept remodeling plans presented by the building committee. This remodel would include increased classroom space, an elevator to reach all levels of the building, new offices for the minister and secretary and a new church library. Ground breaking for this latest endeavor was in 1994. When completed, it created a wonderful new look to our place of worship. A few years ago, we remodeled again but this time it was the sanctuary that underwent a major change. We feel it is a friendly atmosphere to worship and to continue to grow in our Christian experience.
"Christian unity is our Polar Star." // Barton W. Stone
AND
"The Church of Jesus Christ on Earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally ONE." // Thomas Campbell, 1809
