History

TimeLine History of Bethany United Church of Christ

• 1869 -- German Evangelical Church - Church organization

• 1872 -- First German Reformed Church of Hiawatha was organized by Rev. John Beck, Pastor

• 1876 -- German Evangelical Church and the First German Reformed Church united, reorganized.

• 1878-1883 -- Services were held in the purchased old Washington School (later Ewing Herbert home at 5th and Shawnee)

• 1883 -- The school building bought for church services was sold to school board.

• 1884 -- On July 27 the new unified church was consecrated on 6th and Shawnee.

• 1922 -- The Parish House was built and the church was repaired and painted and new pews installed. The Parish House was dedicated on November 26, 1922.

• 1934 -- Bethany Reformed Church merged with the Evangelical Church and the name changed to Bethany Evangelical and Reformed Church.

• 1945 - The first Nativity was enacted by youth of the church during the Christmas Eve Service.

• 1947 -- Women's Guild was organized in September

• 1948 -- Youth Fellowship was first organized in April

• 1957 -- Bethany Evangelical and Reformed Church united with the Congregational Christian Churches and from this consolidation our church became Bethany United Church of Christ.

• 1964 -- In January money had been pledged toward a new church building and in February the Congregation voted to build a new Church and at that time the Parish House was connected to the church during construction.

• 1964 -- November 8 the Cornerstone of the new church was dedicated.

• 1965 -- April 11 the church was dedicated.

• 1965 -- December, new Constitution and By-Laws were drawn up and accepted for Bethany United Church of Christ.

• 1966 -- Steeple and cross were put on the south end of the church building.

• 1967 -- Parsonage was purchased at 211 Delaware and sold in later years. Current parsonage is now at 207 N. 6th.

• Present Day -- Bethany UCC is still in the same church building today that was built in 1964 and dedicated on April 11, 1965. It has foreseen many generations of families as well as new members of the community through the years.

The emblem on the west side of the church is known as "The Cross of Victory."

This symbol - the Cross surmounted by the crown and all of it atop the orb signifies the kingship of the risen Christ over the world. The orb, representing the world, is divided into three parts to signify the command of our Lord to his disciples; "You shall be witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."

"That they may all be one." This text is used for the United Church of Christ rich in the traditions of the past and alive with hope for the future.

The cornerstone of the church built in 1884 held several interesting articles. Among them were an 1884 Silver Dollar, an 1883 Dime, a copy of the Democrat (a newspaper from Hiawatha), a song book and a newspaper printed in German.

The cornerstone of the new church was dedicated November 8, 1964. The contents included a list of the contents from the first cornerstone (since several items were in very poor condition), a nail from the old church; an 1884 silver dollar and 1883 silver dime taken from the old cornerstone, a color picture of the former church, a history of the church from the 1900 Souvenir Edition of the Brown County World; a copy of the church bulletin of November 18, 1951 (75th anniversary); an invitation to attend the memorial of Rev. Hassenpflug on March 19, 1944; a program of the Thanksgiving Service and Dedication of the Parish House November 16, 1922; a 1964 Kennedy 50 cent piece; Hiawatha Daily World of Monday, November 9, 1964; Sunday Church bulletin November 8, 1964; and a membership list of the church.