Welsh Congregational United Church of Christ facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
First Welsh Congregational Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Iowa City off Iowa Highway 1 |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000528 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1977 |
The Welsh Congregational United Church of Christ, which used to be called the First Welsh Congregational Church, is a special building located in the countryside southwest of Iowa City, Iowa, in the United States. It was recognized as an important historical place and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
The Church's Story
Early Beginnings
The very first church service for this community happened in September 1845. It took place in the home of John Griffith. People believe this was the first Welsh church in the entire area west of the Mississippi River. The church group officially started in 1846, also at the Griffith home. They bought that same house in 1848 and changed it into their first meeting place.
A cemetery was started next to the church in 1851. The old meeting house was used until 1864 when their first proper church building was constructed. The old house was then sold and turned into a horse barn. This church is considered the "mother church" for two other Welsh church groups. One group started in Iowa City, Iowa in 1849. Another group formed in Williamsburg, Iowa around 1860. This happened because some people, led by Owen Evans, wanted to have services in English instead of Welsh.
A New Building and Traditions
The church building you see today was finished in 1887. It cost $1,828.56 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The church was paid for completely when it opened. For over 50 years, this church was the meeting spot for the annual Welsh Congregational Church Association, known as the Gymanfa. It also hosted an annual Eisteddfod. This was a fun festival with contests for speaking, writing poetry, and playing music.
The church group continued to meet here until 1954. They stopped meeting because there were not enough members. But the closure was only for a little while. People started working in 1963 to bring the church back. Today, it is part of the United Church of Christ.
Church Design
The church building sits on a small hill above a county road. It is a simple building made of wood, resting on a strong concrete base. There are four beautiful stained glass windows on the sides of the church. On the roof, above the main entrance, there is a tall, pointed spire. This spire sits on a square base and then a six-sided part. The cemetery is located just north of the church building.
