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History of the Evangelical Church in Loyal, Oklahoma 1894 to 1994 (compiled for the 100th anniversary of the church) |
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History of the Evangelical Church in Loyal, Oklahoma 1894 to 1994 (compiled for the 100th anniversary of the church) |
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The Evangelical Church in Loyal, Oklahoma 1894 to 1994 Fall 1894 The Reverend Conrad Bechtold, a traveling representative of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, arrived at Kiel, Oklahoma to serve the Evangelical Germans in Holy Word and Sacrament. This was the beginning of the present Evangelical Peace Church in Kiel, now known as Loyal. Rev. Bechtold served until 1895, when he was succeeded by Rev. Detel, also a traveling representative, who resided at Guthrie and served Kiel from there. Under his leadership this group organized the Kirche der Deutschen Evangelischen Friedens Gemeinde (Church of the German Evangelical Peace Congregation) in 1895. Services were held in the Odd Fellows Hall and the Public School. 1900 The congregation felt strong enough with the assistance of the Kingfisher and Okeene churches to support its own minister and called Rev. Paul Sandrezchi, who delivered his first sermon on September 2nd. A small parsonage was built in the south part of Kiel.
1901 The congregation decided to build a church. Mr. Albert Christ donated a nice lot 150' by 150' in the northeast part of town. The size of the building was 28' x 48' x 14'. Eight hundred dollars had been pledged by the congregation. The cornerstone was laid on November 9, 1902. At the annual meeting of the Kansas City Synod, the congregation at Kiel became the first one in Oklahoma admitted to the Synod. Sunday, February 15, 1903 The church was dedicated. In spite of bitter cold and a blizzard, many members and friends from Kingfisher, Okeene, Orlando and Okarche were present for the services; many had come the day before. Pastor Paul Sandrezcki preached on Psalm 122:7 and Rev. Bonitz of El Reno delivered a message on Psalm 26:8. In the afternoon Rev. O. Luthe spoke in the German language and Pastor Sandrezcki in English.
Because the parsonage generally flooded, in 1908 it was moved near to the church. That Fall, the congregation decided to build a new one. It was dedicated September 26, 1909. In 1928, the services began alternating between English and German. Controversies within the congregation due to World War I and the preferred language usage had been harmful; even the town of Kiel had changed its name to "Loyal." From 1895 until 1934, the church was called the Evangelical Friedens Church. In 1934 the Evangelical Synod, to which this Loyal church was affiliated, and The Reformed Church in the United States were brought together to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Our church name then became Peace Evangelical and Reformed Church of Loyal, Oklahoma. During the German-speaking era of the church, the offering was collected by the elected Collector who held a long stick with a black bag on the end into which the congregation would place the money. As the church became more English-speaking, the method of passing the offertory plates was accepted. In 1938 the Envelope Contribution System was put into use. The normal practice of the congregation was to have Holy Communion served from "One Cup." In 1940 they voted to purchase a new individual Communion set, and this new method was adopted. During 1945 the east part of the parsonage was rebuilt, adding a 20' square area with a basement and water system, costing about $1,200.00. In 1947 a propane heating plant was installed in the church building.
On Mother’s Day, May 10, 1953, the church building was destroyed by fire, beginning at 9:30AM. It was thought to have been caused by lightning from the previous night’s thunderstorm shorting out wires. When the main light switch was thrown for Sunday morning worship, the fire began. The Loyal community and the Kingfisher Fire Department responded, and since the members either lived close to the church or were on their way, they were able to save many of the articles in the building, such as the cross, candlesticks and One Cup service pictured above. Other items saved included record books and some pictures. Through the efforts of members, friends and neighbors from far
and near, the present church was built. Designs were worked out by
the Church Board and Lester Neeland served as head carpenter;
funding came from insurance and many donations of both money and
labor. The new building
was dedicated debt-free in 1954, with the family room and
the classrooms on the north side of the building being built later.
In 1957 the Evangelical and Reformed Churches and the Congregational Christian Churches merged, forming the United Church of Christ (UCC). It took until 1961 to make all the administrative changes needed, and once that was accomplished, the Loyal church became Peace United Church of Christ. In 1965, for the first time a woman began serving on the church board, Mrs. Lesly (Lena) Wehrenberg. Pictured at left: The sign built in 1982; the parsonage is in the background.
~ The People Had a Mind to Work ~ Nehemiah 4:6 1966 Small cabinets were made for the Sunday School rooms, central heat and air-conditioning were installed. 1967 The congregation purchased an electric organ. During 1969, a stand for the church guest book and a clock were added, enlargements to the platforms for the piano and organ were made, new carpeting was laid in the sanctuary, and bricks were laid for the outside bulletin board (church records were sealed in the cement base). Through the years the Memorial Fund has provided the means for making improvements to the church property - blessings given in memory of departed loved ones. Further improvements made in 1971: Storm windows on the church, florescent lights installed in the fellowship room, and bathroom vanities in the restrooms. 1972: The pews were cushioned. 1973: New hymnals were purchased and the vestibule paneled and carpeted. The area behind the church altar, placing a cross there. 1974: The church and parsonage roofs were re-shingled and a vapor street light was installed on the church corner. 1976: The north side of the fellowship room was expanded to include additional Sunday School classrooms, new folding chairs, and a video and screen were purchased. 1977: Bibles were obtained for the pews. 1978: Fire extinguishers and 3 additional tables were purchased for the fellowship room, and vinyl siding was put on the exteriors of the church and parsonage. 1981: New hymnals were purchased as well as additional Bibles for the pews, with the old hymnals being donated to White Memorial Camp. A metal roof covering was added to the south entrance of the church. 1982: A new heating and air-conditioning unit was installed for the classrooms and Fellowship Room of the church. Double glass front entrance doors were installed and a concrete floor was also added underneath the metal south entrance cover. The parsonage kitchen and bathroom were remodeled and the used central heat and air system from the church was put into the parsonage. A new brick sign with our church emblem and name was completed. 1983: Major improvements made were replacing the roof of the church and the graveling the parking area. 1984: A new audio system was installed in the church and the ceiling lowered the recreation room. 1985: The members of the church voted to add 1,000 square feet to the building, making it possible to have more storage space, larger classrooms, and family room, and restrooms that are accessible to the handicapped. 1986: Furniture for the family room was purchased and the new areas of the building were dedicated on April 27th. 1989: Four ceiling fans were purchased for the Recreation Room; a tape deck player and copier were also purchased. 1992: Five ceiling fans were added to the sanctuary and a new vacuum cleaner was purchased. 1993: Spaces for designated in the parking lot for the handicapped. 1994: The 100th Anniversary date was set for November 13th; the Women’s Fellowship prepared a cookbook for the celebration, under the direction of its president, Shirley Kramer. Copies of the Cookbook are still available. Please contact Roberta Seaton for details at robertaseaton@yahoo.com. It should be remembered that many, many members gave dedicated hours to serving as Church Council members, Sunday School superintendents, teachers, officers, musicians, and the young people were an exciting and vital part in keeping activity and interest within the church. Certainly we are grateful for the more than 25 Pastors and their families who have faithfully served this congregation all through the years.
Leon Seaton became pastor on January 1, 1995. He and his wife Roberta (Wehrenberg) were married in the church on August 31, 1962.
There are plans to add to this history information about the years since the 100th anniversary celebration, but in the meantime here are some glimpses into the church building as it is in 2008.
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