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Founded in 1855 as the Webster City Congregational Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ continues the rich traditions of the Congregational ancestors and the extravagant welcome of the young United Church of Christ, now nearly 50 years old, which the congregation joined in 1961. During its more than 150 years, the church has been served by 25 pastors, with Rev. Howard L. Hunt as the current pastor.
The church is older than the city, older than the post office for the city, and first met at the corner of Superior and Fourth Streets. In 1863 the congregation adopted the new name of the First Congregational Church of Webster City and articles of incorporation were signed. Its first building was a former schoolhouse, a move to the current location occurred in 1871 where an attractive frame church was built for $5,110. Twenty years later, the frame church had been outgrown, it was torn down and the brick-faced building currently in use was put up for $17,500. In 1930, a new social hall with classrooms in the basement was added. A chair lift was added as the church approached it’s 125th anniversary to help those with mobility impairments continue their participation, and later replaced by an elevator with the new entrance was built. In 2005, an extensive remodeling of the sanctuary was undertaken, bringing a more open and uplifting feel to the worship setting of the church.
Sunday School was organized in 1856 and continues today with classes for all ages. A “first class Sunday School library” was built for the 25th anniversary of the church, and continued to grow until it led to the town’s Kendall Young Library. Continued concern for the life of the young people led to the formation of scholarships in the mid-60s.
In 1866, the Ladies’ Aid Society was formed and has grown into the current structure of Circles and their mission efforts locally and globally. This group later formed the Women’s Missionary Society and a Young Ladies’ Society. It was the ladies of the church that shouldered major financial support for the construction of the new fellowship hall and basement.
In 1886 the congregation established an outreach church in the Cheevers School about three miles east of Webster City. After three years, the congregation merged into the founding congregation. In 1886, the congregation also founded a Young People’s Society that later became the Pilgrim Fellowship, and later still the Young Adult Ministries and Junior Youth Fellowship.
The church has maintained a close relationship with the wider church, first hosting the 53rd Annual Meeting of the General Association of Congregational Churches in Iowa in 1892, the State Conference in 1911 and 1935 and continues activities with the Northwestern Association of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ, as well as with the Conference and through it the national and international family to which it belongs.
The church has seen two sons of the congregation go on to seminary and enter ordained ministry: Don Yungclas, who served churches, associations and conferences, and Chris Burtnett, currently pastor the Zion United Church of Christ in Schleswig, IA.
Music has always been important to and a mark of this congregation, with the first organ being installed in the early 1900’s and used to offer many classical concerts to the community. Our choirs have been blessed with the talents of gifted and dynamic choir directors, who have also shared their talents with the community through community chorus and Christmas concerts.
This church is noted as the place where social service agencies in the community turn if there is an emergency need, and is a “5 for 5” congregation for mission contributions through the United Church of Christ and is noted as among the top 15% of UCC congregations on per capita giving to support denominationally affiliated seminaries.
First Congregational United Church of Christ hosts Christian Education for all ages, offers Bible Studies per interest, and will soon add an alternative worship service early on Sunday morning. We seek to be a congregation rooted in the past, but looking to the future to support all our members and offer the love of God to our community and world.
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