Category Archives: Churches

United Methodist Church (Mingo, Iowa)

The Mingo United Methodist Church can trace its history to the hamlet of Greencastle, a mile to the southeast of the Jasper County town of Mingo. When the railroad choose a route through Mingo instead of Greencastle, store, homes, and the Methodist Church moved north. In 1898, the current church was constructed, a block east of the downtown area. The building has seen a number of upgrades since opening, including a 1967 addition of a kitchen, nursery room and new classrooms. The church shares a pastor with the United Methodist Church in the nearby unincorporated town of Farrar.

United Methodist Church (Elberon, Iowa)

The Elberon United Methodist Church can trace its history to 1883, when a few families held services in homes in the Tama County community. As the number of families grew, more space was needed, and in 1884, the church held services in a school house on the west edge of town. The current building was dedicated six years later; a basement was added in 1920, and significant interior improvements were made in the late 1950s. The church, which recently celebrated its 125th anniversary, shares a pastor with churches in Van Horne and Norway.

Church of Christ (Arlington, Iowa)

The Church of Christ was organized by seven families in 1858 in the Fayette County town of Arlington. The first church building was constructed at a cost of $2,000 seven years later, with a bell added for $500 in 1876. When a new building was constructed in 1896, the bell was moved to the new facility, which still is active in the community today.

Immaculate Conception Church (North Washington, Iowa)

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (North Washington, Iowa)

Nearly sixty years after a Catholic congregation formed in the Chickasaw County community of North Washington, the decision was made to construct the present brick church. The prior limestone church was torn down, with some of the crushed limestone used for the new building. With a seating capacity of 600, the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington was – and is – the largest church in the county. The church is now part of a cluster of four in the Good Shepherd Catholic Cluster with services held every other Saturday.