The first religious service in Dickinson County was held on Sunday, May 11, 1857, two months after the Spirit Lake Massacre at the “Gardner Place”, one of the sites of the massacre.  This was conducted by Dr. J. S. Prescott, a Methodist minister.

The Northwest Iowa Conference appointed Rev. William Preston to organize a church at Spirit Lake.

The first Board of Trustees was organized with A.M. Johnson as President, he held this office until 1927.

Rev. J.E. Cohenour was appointed to take Rev. Preston’s place and the Spirit Lake Methodists purchased the site, later known as seventeenth and Jackson.

The Ladies Aid organized with seven or eight members and they worked diligently to pay for furnishings for the church and sometimes the pastor’s salary.

The construction begins–the second church building in the county, a brick building.

Just as the walls of the Church were nearly finished, the grasshoppers came and caused such devastation that the whole county seemed ruined.  This caused the work to be suspended for a time. Many wanted to give up the work altogether, but through the efforts of A.M. Johnson, work was continued.

It is said that when the steeple was about half finished, and they were in the process of raising it, the block and tackle broke, thus destroying it and causing much damage to the building proper.

Finally the work was completed, and after placing the bell, S.L. Pillsbury was given the honor of ringing it for the first time.

 The first service was held on the first Sunday of the year 1877.

The church was dedicated on September 1, 1878 with the Rev. I.N. Pardee officiating.  Many services were held in this first Methodist Church:  Sunday School, morning & evening church services, prayer meetings, and various other programs.

Spirit Lake Beacon 6/19/1891 (several sources report this addition occurred in 1892)

The church started to consider the possibility of building a new church.  Where?  Finally the decision was made to build on the area back of the library.  Harry Buck, a realtor and a member of the Presbyterian Church, gave the ground upon which the church was built (known later as eighteenth and Gary).

Many thought the Methodists were foolish to build so large a church.  The building was 71’4″ wide x 92’7″ long; 34′ high from the grade line.  The cost of the building was around $42,000. When dedication day drew near, Dr. Iliff, of the Denver School of Theology arrived and informed the Trustees he could not dedicate the church unless every cent of indebtedness was subscribed, there was consternation, and the women held a meeting alone in the basement.  They all got down on their knees and prayed for guidance.  When they arose, one woman made a motion that we take the pledge, it was unanimously carried.  The women broke out singing “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”.  The men were meeting upstairs and the hymn reverberated throughout the entire church.  The men raised their part also and the church would be dedicated.

A.M. Johnson was chairman of the building committee, Rev. E.T. Gerkin was the Pastor, and the congregation (membership of 200) was so proud of it.  District Superintendent, Dr. McNerney, thought the lights and windows were especially beautiful and the dome reminded him of an Oriental rug.  The ladies had a new convenient kitchen that was used for many church dinners.  The schools used the dining hall for their  junior-senior and alumni banquets.  The many steps up the front entrance of the church were made to accomodate the high ceiling in the basement.  At the time this was the only gymnasium in town designed for basketball!  The school gym was built the following year.

The new church had a beautiful dome.

The center of this dome can still be enjoyed today, it is framed and hanging above the entrance to our current sanctuary.

The Resurrection Window was inspired by the story of Matthew 28:1-7, which tells of the two women coming to the sepulcher and hearing the angel declare, “He is not here; for He has risen.”

This window can still be enjoyed in our current church, it is above the staircase on the west side of the narthex.

The Good Shepherd Window was inspired by the story of Jesus in Luke 15:3-7 about the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep who are safe in the fold to search for the one who is lost.

At the bottom of the window you will see this window was given “In Loving Memory of A.M. Johnson, Sr.”  Mr. Johnson was an early pioneer merchant who helped raise funds for the first church. One of his projects involved fishing through the ice by members and friends with Mr. Johnson selling the catch through his store and successful piscators also peddled pike, perch and pickerel around the countryside until he desperately called a halt to the whole procedure.  Mercy!  Mercy! (his favorite expletive) people were simple “fed-up” with fish! Mr. A.M. Johnson also contributed 20% of the cost of the 1914 church, served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years, and was Chairman of the Trustees for 50 years.

This window can still be enjoyed in our current church, it is above the staircase on the east side of the narthex.

Our first church building, which by this time was used for other purposes, was burned.

The Spirit Lake Beacon (8/22/1918) reports the burning of the mortgage.

In the 1950’s it was felt that an educational building was neeed.  In 1956 the building committee began preliminary studies for the education unit and were empowered by the official board to also make plans toward a new sanctuary in the “indefinite future”.

Wilbur Hanson, Dr. Clayton, Arnold Cook, Ralph Tritle, Sid Northey Groundbreaking for the new Educational building, 10/14/1956.

The Spirit Lake Beacon (August 29, 1957) announced classes will be held in several buildings this fall, including the Methodist Church Educational Building.

The Education Building was Consecrated on March 9, 1958.  The education addition is 114′ x 88′ and was built at a cost of $144,000.   The building included nine classrooms which can accomodate 225 pupils, a kitchen, the fireside room and three offices.  The fireside room was completely furnished by the W.S.C.S. (Women’s Society of Christian Service).  The memorial library was included in the church office and there was an office for the Pastor and Director of Christian Education.

The building was dedicated as Wittstruck Education Building in memory of Reverend Clayton B. Wittstruck, former pastor (1956-1962), who was killed in an automobile accident in August of 1962.

The mortgage was burned in the Fireside Room.  Reverend Clifford Wittstruck, twin brother of Clayton Wittstruck, gave the sermon at the two morning services and assisted Dr. Ralph Kitterman, Superintendent of the Spencer District of the Methodist Church, in the dedication at the afternoon service.  Reverend Roy Cox of Eagle Grove, a former pastor, was also present and participated in the dedication service.