Iowa
Old Press
Iowa City Press-Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa
Thursday, October 28, 1926
Page 6
OLD CHURCH CELEBRATES
-Members of Congregational Group At Williamsburg Observe
Anniversary-
WILLIAMSBURG [Iowa county], Oct. 28--The members of the
Congregational church in Williamsburg celebrated the 70th
anniversary of the founding of their church here, on Sunday, Oct
24. The Congregational church was the first church built in
Williamsburg. The church society was organized in 1856 and the
first church was built three years later. The present church is
the third edifice which has been erected. This was built in 1916,
on the same site where the others stood. The land was donated by
Mr. Richard Williams, for whom the town of Williamsburg was
named, and who also donated the ground for school purposes, where
the high school and grade school buildings stand.
The three services were attended by a large gathering, people
coming from Long Creek, Old Man's Creek, Grinnell, Cedar Rapids
and Iowa City. Those expected from the southern part of the state
were prevented by Saturdays' rain.
-Former Members Write-
The mornings' service consisted of a short discourse by Dr. P. A.
Johnson, of Grinnell, and the reading of 40 letters, which had
come from people who had at one time been members of the church
here. This was a very interesting service, the letters coming
from coast to coast. One was received from Mr. W. F. Harris,
recorder of Cook county, Illinois, one from Judge W. D. Evans,
Hampton, Iowa, judge of Supreme Court, one from his brother, John
E. Evans, of Pipestone.
Interspersed with the reading of the letters were musical
numbers. At the afternoon meeting the sermon was in Welsh, by
Rev. Owen Thomas, of Fontanelle.
-Evening Program-
The evening's program consisted of a sermon by Dr. P. A. Johnson,
of Grinnell, State Supt. of the Congregational church; short talk
by Rev. H. N. Poston, pastor of the Presbytreian [sic] church,
Williamsburg, a history of the church in Williamsburg, written
and read by Mr. David J. Jones, who has been a member 62 years,
and senior deacon 31 years. The music was furnished by the choir,
with solos by Mrs. Clarence Dane, Miss Martha Powell, Miss Sarah
Jones and Miss Lorena Jones, and duets by Mrs. Vincent Owen and
Rev. J. A. Pritchard and Miss Lorena Jones and Leslie Jones.
The collections for the day amounted to $670.00. This came
through taxing the members according to their length of
membership.
-Former Pastors-
The first pastor to serve this church was Rev. E. J. Evans,
father of Mr. Ed. Evans, Williamsburg and Judge Evans of Hampton.
The three oldest members are Judge Evans, his brother John E.
Evans, of Pipestone and John Jones Jr., Supt. of schools at
Leola, South Dakota. These three joined in October 1869. The next
oldest are Mrs. T. E. Gittens and sister Mrs. Ed. H. Jones Mrs.
Sarah Pugh and brother, Mr. David J. Jones, of Williamsburg. The
oldest resident member is Mrs. T. E. Gittens, who has been a
member 62 years. She is a daughter of Mr. Richard Williams, who
donated the land for the church site. Another daughter, Mrs.
Richard Baxter [should be William Baxter], of What Cheer, was in
attendance.
[contributed by S.D.W., March 2004 - to contact the submitter
send an email to S.
Ferrall, be certain to mention the exact news article, date
& county]
[bracketed notes were added by the submitter]