First Presbyterian Church of Grinnell

In 1901, presbytery met in Ewart (just south of Grinnell) and appointed Rev. William W. Woodburn, of Ewart, and Rev. John Ferguson, of Newton, to explore the possibility of establishing a church in Grinnell. In the spring of 1902, the two ministers canvassed the neighborhoods of Grinnell and found a friendly and eager welcome. Several Grinnell residents, including many Grinnell College students, indicated their interest and potential membership in a new church. Rev. Woodburn wrote in what was to become the session book: "It was found that while there were seven church organizations in the city, there were but three; vis, Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, and Baptist that seemed to be progressive. There appeared to be a large class of neglected ones, yet, who were hungering for the Gospel."

Using a $500 loan from the Home Mission Board, Rev. Woodburn established the Presbyterian Church in 1902. July 20, 1902, was "opening day" for the new church, with Sabbath school and preaching taking place at the old armory. On September 13, 1902, the church formed its charter and was established as First United Presbyterian Church, Grinnell.

After some early struggles, including the quarantining of Rev. Woodburn for scarlet fever, the young church established solid roots and early momentum, despite financial struggles. In 1903, the church built a new, $1500 wood frame chapel near the fifth avenue site we currently occupy, and in 1906, a new church home was designed and built at a cost of $4500, under the guidance of Robert Coutts, who also directed construction of many of Grinnell's and Grinnell College's buildings during this time. Many of the early parishioners were immigrants from Scotland or Ireland. The Sabbath school flourished, holding classes for all age groups, and engaging in the friendly rivalry of a "paper automobile race" based upon pupil attendance.

While men of the church have always been strongly represented within our leadership positions, history shows that women and women's groups have been a source of activity and strength throughout. A 1921 dinner was held in an attempt by the women to get the men as involved as the women. In the early 1940's two women's groups started meeting--the Women's Missionary Society (WMS) and the Round the World Circle (RWC). The WMS comprised the older generation of church women and focused activities on international charity, education, and evangelism while the RWC comprised the younger generation and focused similar activities toward our nation and the community of Grinnell. Both groups flourished during this period, organizing activities, sponsoring mission projects and missionaries, and contributing important funds to the church through fund-raising activities. An example that portended later projects, was the RWC support of Bobby Rose, a boy from Kentucky who wrote the church asking for clothes, the group expanding their mission to his family, and corresponding with him for at least two years. In 1958, WMS and RWC joined together to form the Grinnell UPW (United Presbyterian Women), a group that continues strong and committed today.

Regardless of gender, the congregation of First Presbyterian has always been a tremendous source of talent when various talents were needed. Our history abounds with maintenance projects, mission projects, fund-raising activities, special teaching opportunities, occasions for entertainment, and helping out one another and the wider world. Leanne C. Harris's history documents many of these.

Over our history, ten men and one woman have occupied the position of pastor. Woodburn was the first. W. J. Stewart served the longest (1930-53), guiding the Church through Depression and War years. Dan Ogata came to us from Edina, Minnesota in 1973 and oversaw the building of the church facility we still occupy. During his time, we sponsored the Sovaths, a Cambodian refugee family. Father Siv became our church sexton; parishioners helped mother Lor learn English. Three of their children were born in Grinnell and flourished. On his retirement in 1985, Church leaders organized paying off the building loan and honored Rev. Ogata by letting him officially burn the mortgage. After his retirement, Rev. Ogata remained very active in the Grinnell community, for example serving as coordinator of the very successful farmers market and still occasionally filling our pulpit. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois, in the summer of 2006.

Mike Smith followed Ogata, coming from Tucson in 1986. He brought with him a message of the socially active gospel and a love and appreciation of music as an integral part of worship. While his positions on human sexuality and GLBT issues raised controversy, he steered us through the controversy and helped us become a congregation stronger at dealing with controversy in healthy, respectful, and loving ways. During Rev. Smith's tenure the Church helped sponsor a young Liberian woman, Nancy Kpokai, who was brought to Grinnell by the Janet Carl/Greg Johnson family. Mustering much creativity in fund raising, the Church financed Nancy's undergraduate education at Stillman College. Mike also introduced our very popular annual Jazz Sunday, a tradition that continues. Rev. Smith retired in 2003.

In August of 2005, Pastor Kirsten Klepfer became the Church's first woman pastor. Pastor Kirsten is a native Iowan who was born and raised in Cedar Falls and attended the University of Iowa, where she majored in both computer science and religion. After working in the computer field for several years, she changed career path and studied for the pastorate at the Pacific School of Religion, earning her M. Div in 2001.

On July 21, 2002, the Church commemorated the 100th anniversary of our first church service followed by our usual third-Sunday potluck. That evening we held an ice cream social and enjoyed a gospel choir from Marshalltown. On September 15 we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the official founding of the Church with a 6 pm dinner that was catered so that all church members could enjoy the event. Special invitations brought in many former members from out of town. Shane Cook's invocation preceded dinner. Following the dinner, a special program featured participation by Revs. Ogata and Smith, and remembrances by members Myrtle Gilbert, Ray Peak, Miriam Baumann, and Janice Logan, former member Marv Van Peursem, and College students Leanne Harris and Nathan Williams. Special music enhanced the program along with a poem by Alex Moffett. Both of these anniversary events were part of a year-long centennial celebration that included major building improvements supported by a special development effort within the congregation and a series of decade-thematic brunches during the summer.

Note: This brief history is essentially an abridgement of Leanne C. Harris's "A Century of Faith: First Presbyterian Church 1902-2002; Grinnell, Iowa" (PDF file, 36 pages).

First Presbyterian Church Grinnell, Iowa
Home Mission History People Worship Christian Education Music
History In 1901, presbytery met in Ewart (just south of Grinnell) and appointed Rev. William W. Woodburn, of Ewart, and Rev. John Ferguson, of Newton, to explore the possibility of establishing a church in Grinnell. In the spring of 1902, the two ministers canvassed the neighborhoods of Grinnell and found a friendly and eager welcome. Several Grinnell residents, including many Grinnell College students, indicated their interest and potential membership in a new church. Rev. Woodburn wrote in what was to become the session book: "It was found that while there were seven church organizations in the city, there were but three; vis, Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, and Baptist that seemed to be progressive. There appeared to be a large class of neglected ones, yet, who were hungering for the Gospel." Using a $500 loan from the Home Mission Board, Rev. Woodburn established the Presbyterian Church in 1902. July 20, 1902, was "opening day" for the new church, with Sabbath school and preaching taking place at the old armory. On September 13, 1902, the church formed its charter and was established as First United Presbyterian Church, Grinnell. After some early struggles, including the quarantining of Rev. Woodburn for scarlet fever, the young church established solid roots and early momentum, despite financial struggles. In 1903, the church built a new, $1500 wood frame chapel near the fifth avenue site we currently occupy, and in 1906, a new church home was designed and built at a cost of $4500, under the guidance of Robert Coutts, who also directed construction of many of Grinnell's and Grinnell College's buildings during this time. Many of the early parishioners were immigrants from Scotland or Ireland. The Sabbath school flourished, holding classes for all age groups, and engaging in the friendly rivalry of a "paper automobile race" based upon pupil attendance. While men of the church have always been strongly represented within our leadership positions, history shows that women and women's groups have been a source of activity and strength throughout. A 1921 dinner was held in an attempt by the women to get the men as involved as the women. In the early 1940's two women's groups started meeting--the Women's Missionary Society (WMS) and the Round the World Circle (RWC). The WMS comprised the older generation of church women and focused activities on international charity, education, and evangelism while the RWC comprised the younger generation and focused similar activities toward our nation and the community of Grinnell. Both groups flourished during this period, organizing activities, sponsoring mission projects and missionaries, and contributing important funds to the church through fund-raising activities. An example that portended later projects, was the RWC support of Bobby Rose, a boy from Kentucky who wrote the church asking for clothes, the group expanding their mission to his family, and corresponding with him for at least two years. In 1958, WMS and RWC joined together to form the Grinnell UPW (United Presbyterian Women), a group that continues strong and committed today. Regardless of gender, the congregation of First Presbyterian has always been a tremendous source of talent when various talents were needed. Our history abounds with maintenance projects, mission projects, fund-raising activities, special teaching opportunities, occasions for entertainment, and helping out one another and the wider world. Leanne C. Harris's history documents many of these. Over our history, ten men and one woman have occupied the position of pastor. Woodburn was the first. W. J. Stewart served the longest (1930-53), guiding the Church through Depression and War years. Dan Ogata came to us from Edina, Minnesota in 1973 and oversaw the building of the church facility we still occupy. During his time, we sponsored the Sovaths, a Cambodian refugee family. Father Siv became our church sexton; parishioners helped mother Lor learn English. Three of their children were born in Grinnell and flourished. On his retirement in 1985, Church leaders organized paying off the building loan and honored Rev. Ogata by letting him officially burn the mortgage. After his retirement, Rev. Ogata remained very active in the Grinnell community, for example serving as coordinator of the very successful farmers market and still occasionally filling our pulpit. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois, in the summer of 2006. Mike Smith followed Ogata, coming from Tucson in 1986. He brought with him a message of the socially active gospel and a love and appreciation of music as an integral part of worship. While his positions on human sexuality and GLBT issues raised controversy, he steered us through the controversy and helped us become a congregation stronger at dealing with controversy in healthy, respectful, and loving ways. During Rev. Smith's tenure the Church helped sponsor a young Liberian woman, Nancy Kpokai, who was brought to Grinnell by the Janet Carl/Greg Johnson family. Mustering much creativity in fund raising, the Church financed Nancy's undergraduate education at Stillman College. Mike also introduced our very popular annual Jazz Sunday, a tradition that continues. Rev. Smith retired in 2003. In August of 2005, Pastor Kirsten Klepfer became the Church's first woman pastor. Pastor Kirsten is a native Iowan who was born and raised in Cedar Falls and attended the University of Iowa, where she majored in both computer science and religion. After working in the computer field for several years, she changed career path and studied for the pastorate at the Pacific School of Religion, earning her M. Div in 2001. On July 21, 2002, the Church commemorated the 100th anniversary of our first church service followed by our usual third-Sunday potluck. That evening we held an ice cream social and enjoyed a gospel choir from Marshalltown. On September 15 we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the official founding of the Church with a 6 pm dinner that was catered so that all church members could enjoy the event. Special invitations brought in many former members from out of town. Shane Cook's invocation preceded dinner. Following the dinner, a special program featured participation by Revs. Ogata and Smith, and remembrances by members Myrtle Gilbert, Ray Peak, Miriam Baumann, and Janice Logan, former member Marv Van Peursem, and College students Leanne Harris and Nathan Williams. Special music enhanced the program along with a poem by Alex Moffett. Both of these anniversary events were part of a year-long centennial celebration that included major building improvements supported by a special development effort within the congregation and a series of decade-thematic brunches during the summer. Note: This brief history is essentially an abridgement of Leanne C. Harris's "A Century of Faith: First Presbyterian Church 1902-2002; Grinnell, Iowa" (PDF file, 36 pages).
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