The Trinity Lutheran Church in the Iowa County town of Millersburg was constructed in March 1937, with the help of volunteer labor and one paid carpenter. A new floor and kitchen cabinets were installed in the basement in 1958; at the same time, a multipurpose room was created on the main level. Since 1963, Trinity has shared a pastor with Calvary Lutheran Church in nearby Deep River. The most recent change to the church was the addition of stained glass windows in 1993.
Waterville Lutheran Church held its final worship service September 12, 2010, after 133 years of active service in the Allamakee County town. The decision to construct the present and final church building was made in 1904, with the fundraising effort commencing immediately after. The cornerstone for the church was laid on November 1906, and the building was dedicated eleven months later.
In 1854, land for a Catholic church in the Delaware County town of Colesburg was purchased by Reverend Mathias Loras. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church was constructed in 1862, with a replacement church constructed fifteen years later. That building burned in 1940, with the present church constructed on the same site shortly after. Since 1991, the Colesburg church has been paired with St. Mark’s Catholic Church in nearby Edgewood.
The First Baptist Church in the Butler County town of Shell Rock was organized in a school house with 12 founding members on January 18, 1864. A permanent facility for the church was built at the cost of $5,500 and dedicated debt-free in 1872. Three years later, an 1,000-pound bell was installed. Not only does the church continue to operate from the 140-year-old building, the bell still rings, and three of nine evergreen trees planted in 1872 remain in the church lot. Pastor Alan Dicks came to First Baptist in 2006; services are held each Sunday morning, plus Sunday and Wednesday evenings.
Interest in a Methodist Church in the Page County town of Braddyville began as early as 1840, coinciding with the community’s first settlers. In the 1860s, a circuit was formed, with a minister traveling by horse to hold church services in Braddyville and surrounding hamlets. As the town grew, so did the congregation of the Methodist Church, and in 1900, the church building was significantly expanded in 1900. Major improvements continued with technology advances, such as the installation of electric wiring and the installation of a new coal furnace.
In 1947, the growing youth group worked with Pastor Clarence Wollard to raise funds to add a basement to the church. Money came in quickly, and soon dirt was moved beneath the church to make way for the basement, which has been remodeled and enlarged twice since. A major remodeling project began in the sanctuary in 1961 with the installation of a new alter, refinished pews, and new carpet. A dedication service was held in June 1963.
While a March 29, 1979, tornado caused significant damage, the sanctuary remained intact and became a gathering center for clothing, food, and household goods. The basement was used to feed volunteers who helped with town cleanup and served as the headquarters for the Salvation Army’s presence in Braddyville. Improvements to the church continued, with new stained glass windows in 1984, new siding in 1992, a new roof in 1998, and new front doors in 2001.
Two pastors serve the Braddyville church along with others in Blanchard, Coin, Locust Grove, Northboro, Norwich, and Shambaugh. The church has about 40 members with Sunday attendance averaging 20.