T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — Delbert Kellogg, Linda Myren, Milt Dixon, Craig Madill, Andrew Beemer and Stephen Lovig stand in the sanctuary of the Gilman Community Church, which will close services at the end of the year. The building’s new owner is Andrew Beemer with the nonprofit Treasured by God Ministries.

GILMAN — All good things come to an end. With a history exceeding the town itself, the Gilman Community Church is ending services after 152 years.

A celebration of service will be held Sunday, Dec. 17, beginning at 9 a.m. with conversation, coffee and cookies. A table will be set up bearing memorabilia. The celebration of the ministry will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature songs written specifically for the 100th anniversary of the church. Final services will be held Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.

Decreasing church membership and population plays heavily into the difficult decision.

“We have 35 people on the books as members,” said Minister Linda Myren. “Of those 35, many of them do not live in the area anymore or they’re homebound or in nursing homes. You get to the point where you have to make a decision.”

Church Moderator Delbert Kellogg said there is just not a lot of support for small town churches anymore.

“People don’t come like they used to,” he said.

One aspect of the resolution which caused fear among church leaders was they did not want the building to sit empty and become a target for vandalism. So, the facility was given to Andrew Beemer of Grinnell, director of Treasured by God Ministries, a nonprofit organization which will operate out of the Gilman location.

The purpose of Treasured by God is to provide homeless people with free furniture and household items. Beemer said since the nonprofit was founded in 2021, 63 families have been helped.

“That will allow the building to still be used for something that will help people out,” Myren, who has been the minister for six years, said. “It makes leaving easier to know the building is not just going to sit here and not be used.”

The basement of the church will be used as storage for the nonprofit. Knowing how important the building is to the community, Beemer plans on using the main floor as a community center for meetings or gatherings of residents. The reaction of the community to the new plan has been positive, he said.

“They are looking forward to the building being open more than it currently is,” Beemer said. “They view this building as a place where the community can gather.”

Myren said items in the church – tables, chairs, dishes, pews, silverware, historical pieces – have been or will be donated.

“We have managed to give away a great deal of stuff to churches and organizations,” she said.

Church Clerk Craig Madill said giving away the items is how they became aware of Beemer and Treasured by God. Beemer showed up to get some kitchen items, and was surprised when he was offered the building.

“[Myren] made the comment you were looking for a nonprofit to give the building to, and I about jumped out of my shoes,” Beemer said. “I said, ‘Well, I have a nonprofit.'”

Madill said they could have decided to sell the items, but the generated money would be donated to charities. They wanted to eliminate the middle step and simply provide the items.

Significant historical items have been or will be given to the Marshall County Historical Society (MCHS) and the Grinnell Historical Society. Madill said the larger items, such as furniture and the original pulpit, are to be donated to Grinnell because of the lack of space in MCHS. One item he noted to be given to MCHS is the financial record dating from 1930 to 1946.

“That takes in the Depression and World War II,” Madill said. “I just think that something from that time period, we need to hang on to.”

T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — The history of the Gilman Community Church stretches back 152 years. Pictures and newspaper clippings recording that rich history were found in the church after the decision was made to close services.

Long history

The leaders were very knowledgeable of the history of the Gilman Community Church. Treasurer Stephen Lovig recalled finding a letter from a man who wrote about coming to a wide-open area.

“There was no town, just prairie,” he said. “The church was the first thing built.”

Myren said the church was built by a grant for the land which would eventually become the location for the city of Gilman. The town’s namesake, Charles Gilman, was asked to purchase a bell for the church. Myren said Charles was hesitant to do so, because that would mean he would have to provide some money and he was busy with the railroad. Instead, Charles asked his brother, Jim Gilman, who lived in Pennsylvania, to buy the bell, which still hangs within the walls.

Madill said the church which stands there now is not the original 50×100-foot structure.

“The best we could determine, the original church burned down, and they replaced it, and later in 1957, a newer part was built,” he said.

Myren said not long afterward, the church grew quite quickly and did well. At one time, Gilman Community Church had a sanctuary seating 400 people, 200 children going to Sunday school and four choirs. There used to be 120 women in the Women’s Guild, who were divided into groups. Each group had to plan an event throughout the year. As a result, there were many potlucks and guest speakers. Myren said the church used to put on big play and musical productions, and everyone was welcome, regardless of their church affiliation.

“They had everybody from a rabbi who came and talked to professors from Grinnell College,” she said. “They had something going on practically all the time.”

Beemer asked the leaders if it was true the church was well-known for the Norwegian smorgasbords, something which he said townsfolk still talk about. Kellogg said the food-centered event was the hallmark of Gilman Community Church. The smorgasbord required four shifts of people due to the high number of attendees. Myren said the highest number of people at a smorgasbord she could find among the plethora of historical documents was 1,000.

“All that exciting, spicy Norwegian food,” Madill said to laughter.

Myren said everyone were fed foods such as lefse and other Norwegian dishes – but not lutefisk. The infamous dish was avoided to prevent making the church smell. Leftover smorgasbord cookbooks were donated to the library.

Through the years, Madill said they were lucky to receive great ministers. He recalled one minister, about 10 to 15 years ago, said it was time for the members to stop talking about what they used to do and start talking about what they can do.

“He was right,” Madill said.

T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — A handmade banner by the women of the Gilman Community Church, hangs on the wall of the sanctuary. The banner will remain with the building to help preserve the history.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.