Congregational Church of Amenia, N.D. Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 97

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Congregational Church of Amenia, N.D. Records consist of histories of the congregation, meeting minutes, financial records, correspondence, and subject files. The Congregational Histories Series consist of the handwritten speech of E.C. Sargent at the dedication of the church in 1887, and a 1917 sketch by John H. Reed. The Meeting Minutes Series consists of one folder of notes of meeting held from 1886 to 1911. They are recorded on many different types of paper with some only giving that a meeting was held. The second folder consists of a bound ledger which is in extremely poor condition. Page portions near the spine are either missing, or illegible. The Financial Records Series consists of its journal of financial transactions for 1892 to 1909, a very incomplete Sunday School ledger giving attendance and amounts collected, and a correspondence file dealing with subscriptions, pledges and other financial matters. The Correspondence File Series contains miscellaneous letters to the minister and Mr. Chaffee, many concerning pastors. The Letter of Dismission file contains records of members leaving the congregation. For some, the Notice Received is also present indicating the church they joined at their new residence. The Membership Certificates file consists primarily of transfer letters to the Amenia church. The Pledges file consists of various documents and lists indicating promised giving and budget needs.

Dates

1886-1916

Creator

Congregational Church of Amenia, N.D. (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute does not hold the copyrights.

History

On June 22, 1886, a meeting was held in the office of E. W. Chaffee, and after that a paper was presented to each citizen who was known to be a church member of any church asking if they would join a Congregational Church if such should be organized. There was enthusiasm, and when pledges were taken for such, practically every person in the community donated something. When pledges reached $2, 5000, Mr. Chaffee donated land for the church and a parsonage. The church was organized August 15, 1886 at a meeting held in Sargent’s Grove on Section 27, and 28. Lots were laid out for the church property on September 18, and construction was begun on October 6. The first service held in the church was a funeral on June 24, 1887. The first church service held, in the not quite completed church, had 110 people present on June 26, 1887. The church was formally dedicated on July 14, 1887. The cellar wall was put under the building in September 1899. The beautiful stained glass windows are a gift from H.F. Chaffee given in 1910. The Lutherans first held church services in the building during June of 1937, less than a year after the Congregational Church had its 50th anniversary. The Trinity Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, was organized in the spring of 1938 in Amenia and was held in the Congregational Church by Reverend A.H. Grumm of Fargo. In October, 1941, the Trinity Congregation purchased the Congregational Church and parsonage for $3,000. Today the church building remains vacant. (From: Rural Cass County, the Land and People, by Cass County Historical Society, Inc., 1976).