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Most every sect of religious belief is represented in Brookfield, there being
altogether eight churches within the city. While there are a few primitive
structures, in the main the Brookfield
churches are modern and handsome houses of worship. In fact, the Catholic,
the Episcopal, the Presbyterian and the two Methodist and the Christian would
be a credit to a city four times the size of Brookfield; imposing in
architectural beauty, either stone or pressed brick, with slate roofs,
cathedral windows, etc. The first church organization in Brookfield was that
of the Cath- olic,
forty-nine years ago-the first church in the way of a little mission being
erected in 1861 on the present Catholic church site. The little church was
dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hendricks, of St. Louis, in 1868-after the war was over.
Rev. J.J. Hogan, whose ashes now rest just west of town in the convent
grounds, was in charge.
The organized members of the Catholic church were Michael
McGowan, Thomas Bresnehen, Michael Gannon, William
O'Neill, Michael McGrail, John Curtin, Patrick Tooey, Michael White, John McCormick, Michael McKinney
and James Tooey. All have been gathered to the
Great Father except one, Mr. McCormick, still a resident of Brookfield.
The new and magnificent Catholic church was erected about sixteen
years ago through the untiring energy of Rev. Father Tormey,
who has been located here since 1878, although now retired, the Rev. F. C.
Cummins being the present pastor.
The first Protestant church organized in Brookfield was the Congregational, which
was in May, 1865. Rev. Charles H. Pratt was its first pastor. For many years,
through the seventies and into the eighties, the Congregational church was
the most flourishing in the city. Its members in those days were "the
people," or at least thought they were. Those were the days when Major
G. N. Blossom used to toss five dollar bills on the collection plate, and
Deacon Franklin used to lead in prayer meeting. During that period in the
history of the Congregational church some very able divines were called, one
after another, as its pastor. As the writer remembers there were Revs. Harrah,
Plumb, Ham, Foster, Cole, Warren,
Todd, Watt, and others. But once so flourishing the Congregational church is
now but history- having died a decade ago for want of support.
The First Presbyterian church was organized in 1866, and the
erection of the building began in October, 1869. Those who took the
initiative way back in 1866 in the organization of the Presbyterian society
were A. W. Myers, Lavina H. Myers, Ephriam Banning, Louisa Banning, William Donaldson, Ira
Johnson, Otho Reams, Martha Day and S. P. Huston. All have long since passed away.
The first pastor was the Rev. Jonathan P. Finley, a man who after- wards as a
preacher and educator enters into much of the best history of Brookfield. He was the
church's pastor for a quarter century or more, retiring to devote his entire
time to the Brookfield Academy, afterwards the Brookfield College.
When Dr. Finley died the college died also, to all purposes, for he was its
guiding spirit and its inspiration. The new Presbyterian church was erected
some thirteen years ago under the guidance of the pastor at that time, the
Rev. E. C. Jacka.
It was burned some six years ago and the second new church edifice was
erected under the leadership of the present pastor, Rev. W. C. Atwood. The Rev. Mr. Atwood is popular with
his church and the public; looked upon as a strong preacher and energetic
church worker. The Presbyterian church is now among the strongest in the city
in membership.
The First M. E. Church of Brookfield was organized in the fall
of 1866 at the residence of C. P. Hyatt by the Rev. Shumate, at that time
presiding elder of the Hannibal District. The first church was erected in
1870, under the pastorate of Rev. W.F. Clayton. This building was destroyed
by a tornado in 1876, but was rebuilt the following year at a cost of about
$3,000. The second edifice was dedicated with great ceremony, the Rev. C. C.
McCabe, D. D., being present. During all the
years from the dedication of the M. E.
church up to the time it was torn down to make room for the present
handsome and modern church there were several divines, remembered by some of
the older inhabitants; there being Revs. Myers, Weam,
Cooper, Ferril, Messner,
Stocking, Seeley, Cox, Poland, Canada, Casely,
Sapp, Sappenfield, Robbins, Wilson, Fay, Chase, while
the Rev. Edgar Reed is the present pastor. The present church was erected in
1900 and is one of the handsomest in north Missouri.
Next came the organization of the
Baptist church in 1867, with the Rev. E.J. Scott as pastor. The organization
disbanded soon, however, and was again organized in 1874, when Rev. S. L. Cox
served as pastor for two years, after which it again disbanded. It was in
1883 that the Baptists re-organized and this time erected a church on the
corner of Main and John street, which burned two years
ago. Since that time the Baptist society has gradually grown until now, under
the pastorate of Rev. 0. H. L. Cunningham the church has become strong
numerically and in its influence in the community. The Baptists contemplate
the erection of a new and modern church this year.
While the birth or rather the organization of the Episcopal
church does not date back further than 1874, its charter members were among
some of the most prominent pioneers of Brookfield.
On the present site of the elegant Grace
church, of stone and
Episcopal style of church architecture, first stood the Universalist church
way back in the sixties. It was a frame affair with a very high steeple. One
by one the Universalists moved away from Brookfield and when the Episcopa-
lians organized they purchased the Universalist
edifice. The original members of the Episcopal church here in Brookfield were
John Bolton, Joseph Gamble, Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Vosburg, Mrs. Gilson, Miss Fannie Gilson, Mr. and Mrs. Huxtable, Miss Emma Brickell
(now Mrs. Eugene Rawn), Mrs. Fantum,
Major and Mrs. De- Graw, Mrs. M. Graff, Miss Armstrong, and Mrs. Willis. The
church at that time was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Robertson, and its
rectors since those days have been Rev. E. Talbott,
now Bishop of Pennsylvania; Rev. Robert Talbott,
now of Washington, D. C.; as well as Revs. Flower, Sellers, Birnback, James and Merriman. The rock church was erected
about fourteen years ago and dedicated by Bishop Atwell.
One June 11, 1902, occurred an event long to be remembered by
all present, being the ordination of Rev.
Frank Arthur McElwain, who grew up here at Brookfield, and graduated at the head of his class with
great honors in a college of divinity in Minnesota. The
present rector is the Rev. Oscar Homburger and the
vestrymen are John Mc- Cartney, R. N. Bowden, C. W.
Green, L. E. Dewey and Janes Turner.
In the latter eighties, a few years after the coming of
P. J. Wheeler to Brookfield, the Southern Methodist people
began to discuss the idea of erecting a church, and it was in the spring of
1893 that the prominent site on North
Main street was purchased while Rev. Browning
was pastor. The following year the foundation was in and in 1895 the church
proper was erected, but not dedicated until 1897. This church and ground is
one of the most valuable church properties in the city, having cost about
$12,000. Rev. K. T. Davis is the present pastor. He is a forceful preacher
and a very effective church worker, very popular with the membership, and
held in high esteem by the citizens generally.
The Christian Society was organized in 1887, and the first
church erected on South Main
street the same year. The first preacher was
Rev. Colston, since which time there have been
several pastors; the Rev. R. E. L. Prunty remaining
the longest. The present pastor is Rev. Ben F. Hill. He is well liked by the
members and the citizens of the community. Rev. Mr. Hill is a zealous worker
for his church and stimulates the members thereof.
The United
Brethren Church,
in the Third ward, was organized about fifteen years ago and the present
pastor is Rev. A. C. Tudor. He came to Brookfield
last autumn and is an interesting man of good ability and an untiring church
worker.
Brookfield has a bright future
before her, and those who have high hopes have abundant grounds for their
confidence. The city has had a career of unexampled prosperity during the
past five years. The present year is
witnessing more substantial progress than any of its predecessors, and
enterprises already under way give assurance of more advancement during the
year that is still young. The city is rapidly increasing in population, and
the volume of emigration flowing in is constantly growing. Business houses
are increasing in number and size, assuming really metropolitan proportions.
No where can there be found better fraternal brotherhoods, teaching and
practicing the lessons of the golden rule; institutions more universal in
their application to the advancement of morality and humanity; bringing
sunshine and happiness into the homes of the afflicted and the needy, than
right here in Brookfield.
The membership of the Brookfield
churches of the different religious faiths and the membership of the
fraternal societies vie with each other in the work of charity and
benevolence, and the upbuilding and moral training
of citizens, as they trample every obstacle to brotherly love and consign
bitterness and strife to oblivion. And never forgetting to inculcate into the
minds and hearts of their children gratitude and love; gratitude to God for
permission to enjoy good health, happiness and the blessing of good
government; love for fellow- men, loyalty to state and country, Brookfield is
a good town to live in.
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