A Brief History of the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church in Twenty Year Intervals

October 19, 1894

In response to a request presented to Presbytery October 19, 1894, a committee consisting of Rev W.B. Greenshields, Rev D. Williams, Rev J. W. Innis and Elders William Dodds of Algona, John Douglas of Union Township and John H. Warner of Seneca Township met in the Story Schoolhouse 1 1/2 miles north of the new town site in Burt Township June 14, 1897.  After a sermon by Rev. Innis, Rev. Greenshields acting as moderator and Rev. Williams acting as secretary organized a church of nine members to be known as the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church.
The charter members of the church were Christian and Mary Madison, Albert Reutler, Mrs. A. Reutter, Mrs. A. Swain, Mr. and Mrs. Datamus McElwain and Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Adams.  Datamus McElwain was elected and ordained as ruling Elder.

(The town of Lone Rock was not recorded in the county record books until 1899)

October 1897 - 1917

A Charter was issued and recorded in October 1897.
After the town of Lone Rock was established in 1899, the church meetings were held in a hall upstairs on the east side of Main Street for several years, and after the Methodists moved the church building in from the country, it was used by both denominations on alternate Sundays.
For several years the Pastors of the Burt Church supplied the pulpit.  In 1900 the pulpit was filled by Rev. Patterson.
At a meeting July 31, 1904 elders were elected as follows: J.L. Cotton, R.F. Taylor and Chris Madison.  Trustees were John Kerr, Albert Reutter and N.L. Cotton. Fifteen new members were received into the church.
August 11, 1904 the Ladies Mite Society was formed, Mrs. N.L. Cotton, President.
At a meeting of the elders and trustees they agreed to pay the Pastor, Rev. Patterson $200.00 per year, in agreement with the Burt Trustees.  Later the salary was $150, with $30 for Missions.  He was followed by Rev. Bollinger in 1906 and Rev. E.C. Haskell in 1908.
The session minutes from these first years are few and brief.  Membership in 1913 was recorded at 26; 1914 at 29; 1915 at 22; 1916 at 19; From 1904 J.L. Cotten served as Clerk of the Session.  When he died, R.F. Taylor became clerk.
In 1914 the pulpit as filled by Rev. Aten.  In March 1915 Mrs. Tarbell was chosen organist.  It was also voted that she organize a choir for the ensuing year.
On May 27, 1914  N.L. Cotton became clerk of the session.

1917 - 1937

On May 16, 1920 a congregational meeting was held and the work of the church was discussed for the coming year.  Money was raised to buy a manse and provide for the Pastor's salary.  The trustees were then instructed to look over the houses that were for sale and to buy the one they considered the best bargain.
A call was extended to Rev. S.M. Gladstone from Salem, South Dakota.  He was the first full-time minister installed.  He received a salary of $1800 a year.  On October 14, 1920 S.M. Gladstone was duly ordained and installed as Pastor of the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church.  The membership went from 44 in 1921 to 81 in 1925.  During this time the church purchased the church building from the Methodists in 1923 with the assistance of a loan from the bank.
The church choir started in 1920 with Fern Krueger as the choir leader.
Rev. Gladstone resigned July 10, 1936.
On October 25,1936, it was voted to call Rev. Thomas Arends as Pastor of the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church.  In the record of April 1937 it was recorded that Mrs. Arends was church pianist and choir leader.

1937 - 1957

On August 21, 1938 Rev Arends asked that his relationship with the Lone Rock Church be dissolved.
Rev. Carl Sinning was called Nov. 11,1938 and installed as minister April 16,1939 in March of 1939, Ida Schultz was asked to form a choir.  The choir had been a strong feature of the congregation.  They have always loved good music and have been willing to work for it.  In fact, a number of former choir members have gone on to become music teachers.  Rev Sinning left in 1940.
Rev. John G. Anderson was pastor from 1941-1942.  He came from Westfield, Wisconsin.  Rev Anderson died July 6, 1942 at Chatfield, Minnesota.
Rev. Carrol S. Whitehouse was called from Paton, Minnesota in October 26, 1941.  Salary $1200.  May 1942, remodeling of the church was discussed.  The plans for remodeling the church building were examined and discussed, and it was voted to request the architect to make an estimate as to the cost of proposed changes.  The Corn Drive was born in 1942.  This was put in the building fund.
Rev. Whitehouse resigned May 27, 1945.
October 11, 1945 Rev. L. Kingma was given a call to become pastor of the church and was installed Nov. 25, 1945.
In the February 18, 1947 meeting, the session concurred with Mr. N.L. Cotton in his desire to me released as clerk of the session.  The session extended their sincere thanks for continuous years of noteworthy and faithful service as clerk of the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church.  Milton Madison was elected to succeed Mr. Cotton as clerk.
The session made and approved a motion that N.L. Cotton oversee the renewing of the church charter, Sept. 1,1947.
On October 12,1947 a motion was made and approved that the new articles be accepted and the church charter be renewed for another fifty years.
The talk in the early 1947 again turned to remodeling and there was a fairly healthy building fund.  However 1947 passed without any action taken on the building.
A Men's Brotherhood was started in November 1948.
As the congregation moved into 1949 attention was once again turned to remodeling.  It would cost between $25,000 to $30,000 whereas a new building could be built for $35,000 to $40,000.  It was then decided that if land could be found upon which to build, it would be more worthwhile to build new than remodel.  On May 1949 N.L. Cotton gave the church the lots if needed.  Construction on the new church began June 1, 1949.  On October 15, 1950, the new church was dedicated.
When the church was organized in 1897, one elder was elected in 1904 three elders were elected.  In January 1952 the session was increased to five members.
In 1953 the name of the Ladies Mite Society was changed to Presbyterian Women's Organization (P.W.O.)
Rev. Kingma resigned as pastor on June 5, 1953 and Rev. Clifford Nordine was called as pastor on January 24, 1954.
A congregational meeting was called for February 13, 1955 to vote on the purchase of a new organ.

1957 - 1977

A major change for 1957 took place on December 12, 1956.  It was at this time that the rotary system for elders was adopted.  Up to now an elder could be elected continuously; for example N.L.Cotton had been an  elder  for 50 years straight.  Under the new system an elder was elected for a three-year term and them must be off the board for at least one year.
When the  old church was sold, other things were sold as well, including the church bell.  But the old church bell was repurchased and placed on a new brick and cement platform beside the new church.
Rev. Nordine resigned as Pastor on March 12, 1961.
On January 10, 1962 Rev. Benjamin Meyer was called to be the Pastor.
On June 30, 1964 Rose Kraft was presented a Bible for having been the church's janitor for 26 years.  On September 15, 1964 Rev. Meyer resigned as church's pastor.
In October 1965 Rev. Albert Bullock became the Pastor.
The church celebrated its 75th Anniversary on June 18, 1972.
On March 25, 1973 Rev Bullock left Lone Rock for retirement.
Next followed Rev. Tom Moranville.
Church membership record on January 10, 1973 was 178.

1977 - 1997

Rev. Moranville ended his pastorate here December 9, 1979.  On June 1, 1980 Rev Willis Nicholson was installed as Pastor.  It was decided to appoint Mervin Christenson an assistant treasurer, Wayne Preston.
In 1982 church membership was 165.
In January 1984 an investigation was into basement improvements of the manse or whether to build a new manse.  A congregational meeting was held to act on the matter.  The congregation was brought up-to-date by the planning committee as to a possible site, the type of building and financial condition of the church.  Motions prevailed a vote be taken whether or not to build a new manse.  A favorable vote was passed.  A request was presented to Presbytery to build a new manse and dispose of the old manse.  A planning committee was to take care of the plans for the new manse and dispose of the old manse.  The new manse was dedicated upon completion.
Milton Madison was given a plaque for 40 years as clerk of session.
Mabel Blanchard asked to be relieved as church organist after many years of faithful service.
Alfred and Fern Krueger were presented a gift certificate for their many years of service in preparing the elements for communion.
Retirement of Rev. Nicholson started in the session May 14, 1990 and the relationship dissolved August 12, 1990.
On October 20, 1991 a congregational meeting was held in order to vote on calling Rev. Richard Miller as Pastor.  On January 12, 1992 Rev Richard Miller was installed as Pastor.
The Mervin Christenson Estate Bequest to the church was discussed by the session in their April 5, 1993 meeting.  the management of this Bequest was formalized by the session in a Resolution Establishing Trust and presented to the congregation in October 1994.  This Resolution created the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund.
In response to a survey of the congregation, an addition to the building along with other renovations was explored by the trustees.  A proposed floor plan was presented to the congregation in the winter of 1995.
On May 21, 1995 a congregational meeting was held.  After discussion the project was approved.
Various committees were selected to carry out the business of the church's addition and renovation.  A ground breaking was held July 1995.  Work began August 1995.  Dedication of the new church was held September 8, 1996.