Cushing Iowa Church History

Cushing Iowa Church History

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This information courtesy of the Woodbury County Genealogical Society.

United Methodist Church, Cushing

Mr. T O Lake organized religious services which were conducted by him at the railroad depot. He believed in the Methodist Doctrine. He worked hard to see a live church organized and acted as minister and religious advisor until 1886. Rev I A Goodburn then took over as a circuit minister with Holstein. In February of 1888, the church was erected where it still stands today. They were twenty-one members at this time.
In later February of 1888, Rev G W Carr was appointed to the Cushing charge and the church was incorporated in the Northwest Iowa Conference. In June of 1889, the parsonage was built on the lot that the church acquired for thirty dollars. In the latter part of May in 1897, extensive remodeling was done and an annex was built to the south of the church. In 1899 Rev F W Wilson was pastor of the church and united Dr A H Bullock and Georgia Lyman in marriage.
In 1908 Rev George Thompson, a young Englishman, was appointed to the charge. He and his bride-to-be from England were married in a public wedding at the church on January 7, 1909. The young couple presented the church with a Bible. In 1913, during Rev J P Allen’s pastorate, the church was raised and a fine basement was built. The church was served by a pastor on a circuit basis for seventy-five years. From 1910 until 1932 the church was associated with the Battle Center Church. From 1938 to 1940 the association with Holstein was again renewed.
The Cushing-Correctionville circuit was formed in 1943 and is still in existence today. This was also the last year for a minister to live in the parsonage. In 1954, a special organ dedication service was held honoring Mr. Charles L Horn who gave the organ tot h church, honoring his parents. Extensive remodeling was done in the basement of the church in 1955, and in 1963, a new kitchen was added to the basement, a new front entrance was added on to the church and remodeling in the sanctuary added much to the beauty of the church. In 1968 the Methodist Church and the EUB church combined so now the church is called Cushing United Methodist Church.
The Cushing United Methodist Church has one member who went on to be a Methodist minister. He is Rev. Harry E Whyte, brother of Earl Whyte, who served his pastorate in surrounding communities until his retirement in 1957. He passed away in December of 1972.

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