User:Revrunjim/Shabbona Church

Shabbona Church has a unique and colorful history. Initially, Shabbona Church (current name) was a Congregational ministry serving the Shabbona area for over 150+ years. The following is a history of the Shabbona Church...

Introduction We were not the first Congregational Church in the area. The First Congregational Church of Shabbona Center, Ilinois was organized on September 10, 1854. This Congregation Church held services in the Shabbona Grove School House from 1854 to 1865. The Reverend Stephen Bates was their first pastor (Past and Present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I, by Prof. Lewis M. Grove, page 122, published in 1907.) The birth of the Shabbona United Church of Christ began on February 25, 1876, with Reverend J. C. Roy. A small group of people gathered in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Boslough and from this meeting came the First Congregational Church of Shabbona, Illinois. An organizational meeting was held one month later on March 26, 1876, with 22 persons becoming charter members. Accordingly, the organization incorporated under the name, 'The First Congregational Church of Shabbona, Illinois. The following officers were elected: Isaac Davis and Charles Stevens, deacons; Samuel Boslough, clerk; William Deacon, treasurer; and Robert Langford, James Shanks, and J. T. Greenfield. On April 6, 1876, a council of churches ratified the organization and inaugurated its officers.

‘Believe it or not!’ The First Pastor’s Last Name Was ‘Lord’ In May, 1877, the Rev. Edwin Lord was called as the first pastor. The small congregation met in the Baptist Church, until November 6, 1879, when the first building was dedicated on the present site. An organ was given to the church by two of the charter members.

The Start of the World Famous Turkey Dinner In November, 1893, the church members held a chicken dinner in the Masonic Hall to raise money. On Thursday, November 22, 1894, cards were sent out inviting the public to their second annual dinner, held in the Masonic Hall, quoting time and prices. Serving dinner from noon to 2 p.m., they charged 25 cents for the dinner and 15 cents for the supper which was served from 5 to 7 p.m. In 1902, they served turkey and it required 10 ladies to roast all of the turkeys. In 1907, the ladies raised their price to 35 cents. The turkey dinners have continued in the month of November, all of these years, and they are enjoyed by many people, near and far.

Between 1910 and 1912, the church structure was remodeled, which included three beautiful stained glass windows. A pipe organ, built by the Estey Company, was installed and used the first time on Easter Sunday, April II, 1911, even though the newly renovated building was not dedicated until May 28-29, 1911. The structure remained unchanged until 1962. In 1914, services in the Old English Methodist Church west of Shabbona were discontinued, and a substantial part of the congregation united with our church. Our church was free of all debts. On January 5, 1915, it was decided to use the Every Member Canvas Drive to f1l1ance our church. On April 6, 1926, we celebrated our 50th anniversary. Between 1927 and 1935 many improvements were made. The old sheds, reminder of the horse and buggy era, were torn down. Our 75th anniversary, on October 7, 1951, was celebrated and a set of Mass Cathedral Chimes was dedicated. On February 26, 1956, an organ recital was enjoyed on the new Reuter Pipe Organ recently installed, and it was also dedicated. Under-key contacts were installed on the great manual to operate the chimes with the volume control mounted on the stop bolster which was a beneficial addition to the organ. . In July, 1961, a new constitution was adopted, which changed the name from First Congregational Church to the United Church of Christ. This resulted from the 1957 national merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church with the Congregational Christian Church. Following the morning worship services on June 24, 1962, ground-breaking services were held on the church lawn for a new $45,000 educational unit, which was completed and dedicated on October 13, 1963.With a large memorial gift of money, and the sale of our parsonage, we were able to build a new parsonage. Ground-breaking services were held after the morning worship services on September 24, 1967. On May 26, 1968, dedication services and an open house were held at the new location, 316 N. Illini Street. On November 10, 1974, the recognition of our 50-year members was observed. During May, 1975, a speaker system was installed and on May 22, a new steeple was erected on the church. Both of these were made possible by memorials. For those couples who exchanged their marriage vows at the former parsonage, 104 W. Navaho Street, a tea was held to honor them on October 5, 1975

TIMELINE OF SHABBONA UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST February 25th, 1876: Informal Saturday evening meeting at the Samuel Boslough home to discuss religious needs. March 26, 1876: Twenty-two people express their desire to unite in a constituted church. April 6, 1876" A council of church officials ratified the new constitution and installed the first officers. May 1876" The Reverend Edwin Lord became the first assigned pastor. Services were held every other Sunday in the Baptist Church. Women's groups and Sunday School began immediately. November 6, 1879: The church building was dedicated free of debt. 1902: The parsonage was remodeled and Christian education organized. March-August 1910: The church was without a pastor and it closed for extensive remodeling including moving of the tower and removal of the steeple. April 16, 1911: Easter Sunday, first use of the new pipe organ made by the Estey Co. of Brattleboro, Vermont. May 28, 1911: Sunday. Re-opening of the church after extensive remodeling. 1914: Services ended in the Old English Church west of town and many members joined the Congregational Church. Mrs. Fox organized the Women's Fellowship, a merger of two smaller societies. 1946: Church and parsonage remodeled extensively. 1952: Church basement remodeled, organ improved and relocated, sanctuary redecorated. 1960: Parsonage redecorated and heating plant installed. 1963: Church building enlarged and remodeled. 1967-68: New parsonage built, former building sold and church windows leaded. 1971: Church sanctuary refurbished. May 22, 1975: A new Church steeple erected.

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