First Lutheran adds another chapter to ‘The Little Church That Grew’

In 1977, Helen Stanerson Overbaugh wrote an article titled "The Little Church That Grew” for the 100-year dedication of the building of First Lutheran Church near Conroy.

In the 46 years that followed, the church has done exactly that, including a recent project that doubled the size of the original 1877 structure at 2504 175th St., Marengo.

Begun in March of 2022, the renovation added a new 47 x 36-foot sanctuary, converted the original sanctuary into a fellowship area and crafted a kitchen and secretary’s office, all on one level in keeping with the church’s goal of creating a worship home accessible by all.

“This project was years in the making,” said interim pastor Zach Bey, who has served First Lutheran since last December. He stepped in after Pastor Donald Dovre answered a call to another church last fall.

When Pastor Bey visited First Lutheran for the first time, the new addition had only been completed for a few months.

“I knew this was a congregation with a lot of energy,” he said, reflecting on his initial visit. “This is a congregation with a lot of drive to move forward.”

As the only Evangelical Lutheran Church of America church in the area, First Lutheran serves people from throughout Iowa County. This latest round of work was no small project, either in scope or financial commitment for a church that sees an average of 40 worshippers on Sunday morning. Cost for the recent construction was in excess of $300,000, noted Phil Jennings, Williamsburg, who served on the church’s building committee.

The project was funded by cash on hand and pledges, said Pastor Bey.

“They will be able to zero out the balances in the next few years as the pledges come in,” he added. “That is really an outstanding achievement.”

Construction

The project, which began in late March of 2022 and was completed in August of 2022, was yet another step in the church’s mission to have all of its amenities on one level.

“All of this is driving toward being a congregation that is accessible to all people,” said Pastor Bey.

Contractors were all Iowa County businesses, including Brecht’s Construction and York Concrete, both Marengo; Belland Plumbing and Heating and John’s Electric and Technical Service, both Williamsburg, and Garcia Carpet, North English.

“We serve the community,” said Jennings, “and the community served us. Having local contractors was an awesome part of this project.”

During construction, parishioners worshipped in the old sanctuary for as long as possible. When the former sanctuary had to be dismantled, they took their Sunday services outdoors, which is a summertime tradition at First Lutheran. If the weather was uncooperative, they held services in the basement.

The sanctuary furnishings, including the red oak altar constructed in 1925, were moved from the old space to the new, with the addition of several more pews to accommodate the enlarged space. A new Communion rail is still being crafted, as the old one no longer fits.

The first service in the new sanctuary was held in August of 2022, shortly before Pastor Dovre received a call to another church. While landscaping remains a project for the future, the congregation has settled into its expanded worship home. Christmas, Easter and a recent funeral tested the church’s ability to handle larger than normal attendance numbers. Adding chairs in the fellowship area provided comfortable seating for overflow events.

“We’re excited to use the space to share the good news,” Jennings said. He noted this was the final element in the church’s “So All Are Welcome” accessibility project which began in 2011 with a covered drive-up ramp and entry on the building’s west side. Previously, building access was only by steps on the north side, a problem for worshippers with limited mobility. Having the former fellowship area in the basement also restricted its use.

Landscaping will be a summer project and the new sanctuary will be dedicated in an August service, when officials from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America can attend.

History

First Lutheran Church was founded in 1866 as the “Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in the Town of Hilton, Iowa County.”

George Swezey, Marengo, built the church in 1877 for $700. According to the church’s sesquicentennial book, “The building was 26 x 40 feet with three arched windows per side and a tall stately bell tower constructed over a small narthex. The bell in the belfry would peal an hour before worship to alert the congregation of the time, as not everyone in those days had a reliable watch.”

The church’s history reflects the changes experienced as Iowa County moved through the 1900s. It was first heated by a wood stove in the sanctuary, then by a coal furnace. Electricity was installed in 1948, followed by the addition of a fuel oil forced air furnace in 1958. That year also saw the digging of the basement and addition of indoor plumbing. A 15 x 26-foot addition was built on the north side, which increased the size of the narthex, or entry area.

The church’s first technology upgrade came when a telephone was installed in 1970. In 1976, the entire church was raised 16 inches to allow for a drop ceiling in the basement to hide heating ductwork and electrical wiring as the kitchen was enlarged and a classroom, mechanical room and storage space were added. The bicentennial year was a busy one, with a 2,200 square foot expansion to the north creating space for offices and classrooms.

In 2011, the congregation launched the So All Are Welcome accessibility project. The focus was to remedy the problem of an entry that required stairs and having the only bathroom facilities were in the basement.

Later in 2011, a covered drive-up ramp was built on the west side of the church and a former classroom on the northeast side was divided into a handicap accessible bathroom and kitchenette.

Comments: Melinda.Wichmann@southeastiowaunion.com