Church History

1868

Under the auspices of Reverend Asa S. Allen of Black Earth, who acted as moderator, these seven organized a church to be “denominated the first   Congregational Church of Lone Rock:” Mr. David Hardenburg, Mrs. Maria Hardenburg, Miss Mary Gertrude Hardenburg, Mr. A. A. Aldrich, Mrs. William Craig, Mrs. Eliza Wallace and Mr. Horatio Giles became the character   members of this church and thus, the first giant step in faith was taken by   this church.On April   12, 1868, the first service was held and Simon B. Loomis was the first pastor. Meetings were held in homes and in the school house. Pastors were paid $100 per year. Rules for the church   discipline were to be found in Matthew 18:15-17. 

1871
Simon Spyker is pastor. 

1873
The  church continued to grow. In May of 1873, a new church building   was ready for public worship. A vote was taken at this time to have “Free   Pews” in the new church. Land was purchased from William Craig for $70 and   the total building cost was $1,259. Interesting: A   document filed by the Congregational Building Society in 1873 stated that the   village population consisted of: 20% Irish, 40% Norwegian and 40% American. 

1874
Henry  Pullen is pastor.An entry dated   August 29, 1874 quoted that, ”…if expedient to hire a pastor in   conjunction with Spring Green Church, we would pledge the sum of $80 for   pastoral service.”  

1875
Mr. Oscar S. Smith is   hired as pastor.  

1877
Mr. Simon B. Loomis is   hired as pastor. 

1878
On March 21, a   vote was taken to unite with the Spring Green Society and   have the pastor spend one-third of his time in Lone Rock. Results were: “Spring   Green concluding they were not ready to unite with us and might not be for   some time.” Interesting: In 1878, church records record the   following line of business: "It was   also agreed that, “saloon keepers not be asked to help in raising money for   the Pastor’s ‘Salery’ for the coming year.” 

1879
William Stoddart is hired as pastor. 

1881
Eben Foster is   hired as pastor. 

1884
D. Ellis Evans is   hired as pastor. 

1886
A. Schofield is   hired as pastor. 

1888
D. Cochlin is   hired as pastor. 

1889
Ernest   E. Day is hired as pastor.The Brown   Church of Bear Valley was organized through the efforts of the Congregational   Conference, and for many years was served jointly with the Lone   Rock Church. 

1892
A.L. McClelland is   hired as pastor. 

1894
D.L. Thomas is   hired as pastor. 

1896
August   F. Fehlandt is hired as pastor.In 1896,   ordination services were held in the Lone Rock Congregational Church   for a Mrs. Harriet Williams to act as Pastor of the Bear Valley and Lone Rock churches.   This has been the only woman pastor, to date, in the history of the church. 

1897
Mrs. Harriet E. Williams is   hired as pastor. 

1899
T. Arthur Porter is hired as pastor.

Some interesting quotes form the   clerks records were as follows:

• 1910:  "Baptisms were held “by the water.”
• "A motion was held to hold a Sunday school picnic at Long Lake."
• 1911: Members are called “Brothers and Sisters.”
• "Meetings were held at 8:30 p.m. and often as late as 9:00 p.m."
• 1913: "Vote taken to unite with the Methodist people and hire one man to take charge of five churches including Lone Rock. Vote ended with 0 in favor and 11 against."
• 1916: "A person was asked not to take part in the services because his doctrine was contrary to the Word of God and the teaching of Christ."

1902
August F. Fehlandt is   hired as pastor. 

1903
In September of 1903, a meeting was held to   appoint a committee to look into building a parsonage and to borrow $400 from   the Congregational Building Society.   Five members were appointed for this purpose and as a result, a parsonage was   constructed next door to the church. 

1905
E.O. Chapel is   hired as pastor. 

1906
Henry A. Miner is   hired as pastor. 

1907
Mrs. H.E. Williams is   hired as pastor. 

1910
Joseph C. Peters,   Lic. is hired as pastor. 

1912
Otto J. Scheibe is   hired as pastor. 

1914
Homer S. Vreeland is   hired as pastor.

1916
W. H. Swan is   hired as pastor. 

1917
S.F. Peek, Lic. is   hired as pastor. 

1917
Discussions were held on whether to unite the Methodist church and the Congregational church.

1918
On November 11, 1918, a special meeting was   called to order by a Dr. Carter of Madison in regards to uniting the Spring Green and Lone Rock churches. Both   churches voted in favor of this and Reverend   Walter Shilling was called to pastor the two churches.   This was the beginning of a yoke ministry that would last until 1979. 1919
Walter E. Shilling is   hired as pastor. 

1923
Discussions were held again on whether to unite   the Methodist church and the Congregational church.

1924
Charles Walker is   hired as pastor. 

1925
William Price, Lic. is hired as pastor.Discussions   were held once again on whether to unite the Methodist   church and the Congregational church. 

1926
Discussions were held yet once more on whether to   unite the Methodist church and the Congregational church. Finally,   in 1926, both churches were united as one and were placed under the   supervision of the Congregational Church.   The Methodist property,   consisting of Lots 4 and 5 of Block 6, was deeded to the Congregational church. The Helping Hand Society paid   $300 to the Methodist Conference for   the same, and the name of the church was changed to Congregational Community Church at   this time. 

1927
L.E. Murphy, M.E. is   hired as pastor. 

1928
John   Robertson is hired as pastor.In May of 1928, yet another big step in faith was taken when it was decided to rebuild one of   the two churches and to sell the parsonage. After a thorough remodel, it was   decided to sell the Methodist church and remodel the Congregational   church for a cost of $4,200. A motion to sell the parsonage for   $2,100 resulted in the money being used for remodeling. In June of 1928, the Methodist   church building was sold to the Lutheran church for $750.   In November, a dedication service for the new Lone Rock Congregational   Community Church was held. Remodeling work consisted of: adding   sixteen feet to the length, raising the building then building a basement under it with a kitchen and dining room, installing a furnace and new, art-glass windows. “The church was beautifully decorated with ferns   and potted plants, refinished floors and beautiful upholstered pews.” 

1929
Howard M. Jones is   hired as pastor. 

1930
Stewart H. Smith is   hired as pastor. 

1934
William B-H O’Neill is   hired as pastor. 

1939
Robert   F. Merritt is hired as pastor.In May of 1939,   the last payment on the above remodeling project was made and a mortgage   burning was held. 

1943
On April 11, 1943, with Reverend Robert Merritt as   pastor and several other ministers in attendance, the 75th anniversary of the   church was observed. Well-filled baskets of food were brought in a for a   potluck dinner. 1954
Harry Dorley is   hired as pastor. 

1955
The church basement was again remodeled in   1955, with the installation of a new oil furnace, two bath rooms, new cupboards,   counter tops, installation of a new hot water heater and two electric ranges.   And the sanctuary received a new, Baldwin organ. 

1956
SERVICE GUILD: On   February 23, 1956,  a group of 12 women gathered at the Beverly Brander home and from this gathering, a women’s group was formed which they called   the Junior Circle. The following   women were the charter members of this group: Beverly Brander, Donna   Jensen, Henrietta Lettman, Alma Bailey, Mildred Bristol, Charlotte Lytle,   Marcella Price, Myrtle Webster, Beverly Dietzman, Shirley Sprecher, Ethel   Richardson, Kathryn Lind, Mathilda Porter, Betty Nelson and Pauline Fisher.   This group was a very active group through the years and were involved in   various fund raising projects like the purchase of choir robes, carpeting,   recovered pews, and helping with redecorating the sanctuary and basement and   many other countless projects. They also supported Jane White and her Korean Children's Home in   Korea, and the Dave Brewers in   Sask, Canada, as their mission projects.   In 1966, the group felt that Junior Circle was   no longer an appropriate name and changed their name to The Service Guild. They felt this   would be a chance to renew their efforts to be of further service to the   church and to themselves. The Service Guild was responsible   for the organization of the church’s Annual Chicken Supper which   has been a tradition of this church for many years. The first mention of the Chicken Supper was in   January, 1906. Prior to The Service Guild being   organized, chicken suppers were put on by the capable hands of the Helping Hand Ladies. The Service   Guild was a hard-working group with willing and capable hands and well-known   as being excellent cooks! 

1958
David   Menchofer is hired as pastor.The 90th anniversary of the church was observed in 1958 with Reverend David   Menchofer as our pastor. 

1959
The following year, the sanctuary was   redecorated. This included the removal of the front railing and replacing it   with a new railing going straight across instead of at an angle. It also   included the installation of new carpeting. 

1960
Robert Vornholdt is hired as pastor. 

1961
In 1961, a discussion on whether to merge   with the Evangelical and Reform Church and   be renamed to the United Church of   Christ was held. Vote was taken and the decision was not to   merge, but to remain a “continuing Congregational   church.” 

1964
Thomas Witzel is   hired as pastor. 

1965
In 1965, during the partnership of Reverend Tom Witzel, the   church sponsored a Youth Center in Lone Rock, which was to be of service to   all youths of all denominations. This continued in service for several years. 

1966
Paul Ray is   hired as pastor (pictured at left.)

1968

Jane White and the Chechon Children’s Home in   Korea became the church’s mission field.New lights were   installed in the sanctuary and continue to be a beautiful addition during   worship.In May, the   Centennial Services for the church were held with Reverend Paul Ray as our pastor.The membership has grown from the original seven people to 121! This was a very meaningful   service with several older members who reminisced about years gone by.

1970-71

Yet another extensive remodeling project began 1970 and continued until 1971. This time, the entryway was altered   by adding onto the front of the church, which also added more room in the   basement while enclosing the steps. A pastor’s study was added, a cry room and new carpet was installed. This was possible, in part, because of a memorial given by Mrs. Addie Bills in   the amount of $5,000. Dedication was in October of 1971 with Reverend Paul Ray as   Pastor. The total cost of this renovation project was $6,400.

1973 

 David O’Brien is hired as pastor.  

1974

The church purchased a new organ. 

1975

 The church voted to join the NACC (National Association of Congregational   Churches.) In January of that year, land across from the   church was purchased from the Wisconsin Power and Light (WP&L) Company for $250.  

1979

Robert Warmouth is hired as pastor. In April of 1979, Clara Simonson deeded us additional land adjoining the lots purchased   from WP&L. As one of the LRCC pastors once said, “without a vision the people perish,” (Pastor Leeds.) It seemed as if the   church didn’t have a vision and that it was slowly fading away. Sometimes the Lone   Rock church couldn’t afford its share of the 40 percent expenses   due the Spring Green church.

Another giant “step of faith” took place: The yoke between the Lone  Rock and Spring Green churches were severed--a relationship that had been in place for 61 years--and it hired its own   minister. The votes resulted in 25, yes and 15, no. It was also voted to   build a new parsonage with the church borrowing $20,000 to begin this   endeavor. The parsonage was to be built on the land previously purchased from  the WP&L.

By July of 1979, Lone Rock had hired a full-time pastor, Reverend Robert Warmouth. The new parsonage was ready for his occupancy in the fall   of 1979 and in September of that year, one month after the arrival of our new   minister, Claudette Warmouth, wife of Reverend Robert Warmouth passed away.   It was a sad beginning for the church’s new venture, but one that would   not hold it down--only with pulling together as members, and with God’s help   did the church succeed independently in its first year.

Another step taken during 1979, against all odds, was the opening of a thrift   shop, located in the same building that the old youth center had occupied   many years before. It was a marvelous  success--a good money-maker for   the church. The project was overseen by Lorna Carswell, a woman totally   dedicated to its success, and to all the women and men of the church who   willingly volunteered many hours of work through the years. The Thrift Shop   continued to serve us until it was destroyed by fire in 1988. It was yet   another blessing we received from the Lord. 

1980

New window coverings were installed to protect our beautiful and valuable stained glass windows.

1983

Gerald C. Meyer—Lay Minister (licensed as Minister of God by board) is hired as pastor. Denny Leeds is hired as pastor. Another “Big Landmark” took place in 1983 when we notified the NACC that we would no longer need to accept their financial aid which we had been receiving since our separation from Spring Green. In fact, we would begin repaying what we had received from them. Although this is unnecessary, we felt we would use this as part of our mission work. 

1984

 Pew cushions were recovered and refinished with help from the Service Guild. The average church attendance was 85 per Sunday. The parsonage was paid off and the mortgage burnt in June of 1984, a mere five years after the decision to build. Results of another step of faith. 

1989

Reverend Creighton (Craig) Peach was hired as pastor and has served to this day. 

1990-92

The kitchen was remodeled once again,   with new counter tops; two new sinks, two new ranges and new flooring. The walls of the basement are now beautifully paneled as well and new siding was added in 1992.

1993

Our mission projects in 1993 included Steve and Cheryl Brewer, Jane White, Dave   (former pastor) and Sheryl O’Brien and Mel Carlson.

On May 3, 1993, the celebration of the church’s 125th Anniversary,

For many years,  our church has been truly blessed with great pastors—each one adding his best   to this church. We have grown in the Lord, spiritually, as well as in number. The Lone Rock Community Congregational Church today is a pillar of   the community. Its members thrive and grow in a warm, spiritual fellowship  and are considered to be concerned, caring and full of compassion and love   for fellow man. This can only be because we are led by the Lord and follow His bidding. He has truly blessed this congregation and all praise is His. We   are grateful to Him and the many blessings He has given us. 

Many dedicated people have unselfishly contributed in hundreds of ways to   insure the “Big White Church on the corner” stays alive for future   generations. A place to worship the Lord—may this ever be so—and if we, and   those who follow, will continue to Love, Serve and Ask the Lord to supply all   our needs . . . it will remain!

2018

Installation of a wheelchair accessible elevator connecting to the main level to the lower level.

2021-2023

The church basement underwent significant changes in these years. Two stoves were replaced as well as the refrigerator. By the end of 2023, the kitchen lighting, plumbing and electric was upgraded and kitchen cabinets were replaced, as well.

The overhead projector screen was replaced by three television monitors placed around the sanctuary. The entire sound system was upgraded and set up for supporting  a music team and choir.

We continue to step out in faith and we continue to be blessed. Thank you, God.