1883 -- Church formed

1885 -- Name changed to North Prairie Lutheran Church

1893 -- Name changed to Holmes Norwegian Lutheran Church

1917 -- Name changed to Holmes Evangelical Church and Bethlehem Norwegian Evangelical Church merged with Holmes

1919 -- Name changed to Holmes Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church

1951 -- Name changed to Holmes Evangelical Lutheran Church

Something to celebrate... 125 years of faith in rural Iowa
The parishioners of Holmes Lutheran Church are looking forward to celebrating their Sesquicentennial on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, and you're invited to help them celebrate. The Lutheran Church at Holmes was first formed in 1883, with services being held in country schools near Holmes and in various peoples' homes. In 1885, Reverend H.C. Holm from Cambridge, IA joined the congregation as their first pastor. During this time, he also served at Evangelical Lutheran in Eagle Grove. In 1887, the church changed their name to North Prairie Lutheran Church. Over the next couple of years, they saw steady growth as many families joined the church. In 1889, they were able to offer Sunday school and one month of Bible School held at the Prairie Dell and Stenberg schools. When Reverend H.C. Holm resigned from the congregation in 1891, Reverend Ole Shefveland was called to serve there as well as at Evangelical Lutheran in Eagle Grove and Lake Lutheran in Humboldt County.

In May of 1893, the congregation began building a church of their very own on land donated earlier by L. L. Estes. The building was 28' x 40' and was insured for $1,000. There were three sections of pews and two aisles. Six kerosene lamps lighted their services. After the construction, the church changed its name from North Prairie Lutheran to Holmes Norwegian Lutheran Church. In fact, some services continued to be conducted in Norwegian as late as 1943. In 1902, Bethlehem Lutheran Church was erected in Holmes, but they were of the Hauge Synod. In 1916 a meeting held by both Holmes Norwegian Lutheran (United Synod) and Bethlehem Lutheran determined they would both withdraw from their synods and stand as a free congregation. In 1917, the name of the church became Holmes Evangelical Church, and Reverend Spande was called to be their pastor. In 1919 the name of the church changed again to Holmes  Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1931, a cyclone hit the town of Holmes. The church was partially moved off its foundation, requiring a lot of repair. During the renovation, the furnace room was enclosed and a kitchen was built in the basement.

 In 1951, the name of the church was again changed, this time to Holmes Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1955, restrooms and classrooms were built in the basement. A mother's room was also added. In 1996, Pastor Marvin Dooley began serving Holmes and Samuel. A new parsonage was purchased with Samuel Lutheran in 1969. Pastor Dooley resigned in 1973. In 1975, Holmes Lutheran joined the World Mission Prayer League and supported a missionary family. Throughout the course of the next several years, the church kept changing and upgrading as they prepared for their centennial in June of 1983. A two-day event was held with returning pastors, a meal, worship and fellowship.

Devastation came on August 28, 1985. The Clarion Fire Department was dispatched to the church at 3:35 a.m. Holmes Lutheran was on fire. By the time they arrived, the church was completely engulfed in flames. The only thing salvageable was the church bell. The culprit was a faulty dehumidifier in the basement. Services were held, temporarily, at the Goldfield School. On April 27, 1986, ground-breaking ceremonies were held for a new church building. On November 2, a dedication service was held in the new church with District Bishop Curtis Miller present. Over 150 members continue to meet for worship in the one level brick church. In addition to Sunday service, the ELCA church offers Sunday school, Bible Study, Confirmation, Lenten services, a Women's Home Circle, and a sewing group. Pastor Stanley Peterson has served as the congregation’s pastor since 2000. Marilyn Jorgensen is the ministry assistant. Worship is held each Sunday morning at 10:45 (10 a.m. in the summer) and Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. All are invited to come and worship any time. You are also invited to help them rejoice with them on Sunday, Aug. 24, as they celebrate their vibrant history of 125 years, and look forward to the future and what it holds in store for Holmes Lutheran.
 
Eagle Grove Eagle --  Eagle Grove, Iowa

August 14, 2008

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Holmes Lutheran celebrates 100th
The Holmes Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated its first 100 years last weekend with centennial services and a dinner. The meal Saturday evening was prepared and served by 30 members of the Samuel Lutheran congregation in Eagle Grove. After the meal, the program included a recitation of the congregation's history and greetings from sons and daughters of the church who went into the ministry. Those persons were Rev. and Mrs. Orville Olson of Mesa, Az.; Mrs. Doris Sunwall, Conrad, Mt., and Rev. Orville Andersen, Winter Haven, Fl. Parts of the Sunday morning church service were done in Norwegian. A program in the afternoon featured greetings from former Holmes Lutheran pastors, including Rev. Orville Sanderson, Story City, and Rev. Marvin Dooley, Radcliffe.

The church was started in 1883 by a group of 12 Norwegian immigrants. The records of the church were written in Norwegian until 1934. Oscar Erickson, Anton Anderson and Theodore Koltvet, all of Clarion, translated the Norwegian into English for the centennial. For the record, 138 weddings, 200 funerals, 585 baptisms and 518 confirmations have been performed in the church's first 100 years. The church has had 19 pastors, including Rev. Tom Jolivette, who has been pastor since 1980. The congregation now has about 200 members.

Eagle Grove Eagle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa 
June 29, 1983