The Little Brown Church facts for kids
The Little Brown Church is a famous historic church located near Nashua, Iowa. It became well-known because of a popular song called "The Church in the Wildwood". The church building was finished in 1864.
Contents
The Story of the Little Brown Church
How the Song Began
The music for "The Church in the Wildwood" was written by Dr. William S. Pitts in 1857. He got the idea after a coach ride that stopped in Bradford, Iowa. Dr. Pitts imagined a church in a valley near the town, even though the church wasn't built yet.
Building the Church
When Dr. Pitts returned to the area in 1862, he was surprised to find a church being built exactly where he had imagined it! Before this, the church members had been meeting in different temporary places. Reverend J.K. Nutting helped lead the effort to build a permanent home for the church.
The Song and the Dedication
While the church was being built, Dr. Pitts was teaching singing at a nearby school called Bradford Academy. At the church's dedication ceremony in 1864, he taught his class to sing his song for the very first time. Later, Dr. Pitts sold the rights to his song for a small amount of money.
Tough Times and a Comeback
In 1888, the church had to close because of tough economic times in the town. But people didn't want to lose this special place. So, a group called the Society For the Preservation of the Little Brown Church was formed to save it. By 1914, church services were being held in the building again.
Growing Popularity
Soon after reopening, the small church experienced a new wave of interest. This brought more attention to the church and its song. A traveling singing group called the Weatherwax Quartet loved the song and used "The Church in the Wildwood" as their signature tune during their tours across Canada and the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. They often talked about the little church during their performances.
As the song became more popular, and with the development of the U.S. Highway system in the mid-1920s, many visitors started coming to the newly reopened church.
A Popular Tourist Spot Today
Today, the Little Brown Church is a very popular tourist spot. Thousands of people visit every year to see it or even to get married in the "little brown church in the vale." The church is currently part of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches.
