The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-12-26
(Continued Som First paee1

IN Redwood Falls and these number
among their membership large per-
centage Of the city's population, it
being estimated that at least three
fourths of the residents practise and
profess some form of religion.
The church facilities are not limit
ed to the city of Redwood Falls alone,
and church spires can be seen point
ing to the heavens from all sections
of the county. There are. So churches
in the county and the combined num-
Der of communicates number over
eight thousand souls.
The church organizations of Red
wood Falls consist of the First Metho-
dist Episcopal, the First Presbyterian,
the Church of Christ, the st. Johns
Evangelical Lutheran, the st. Cath
crimes Catholic and the Episcopal
Church of the Holy Communion.
The membership of the Methodist
church is given as 603 with 418 enroll
ed in the Sunday School, including
the Cradle Roll and Home Depart
ment; the membership of the Presby-
terrain church is given as 1928 with 229
members of their Sunday School; the
Christian Church has a membership
of about $50 with 126 enrolled in their
Sunday School; the Lutheran Church
has a membership of 20 families with
Sunday School attendance of IS;
the Catholic Church ministers to $50
families with IS or 90 in their Sun
day School; the Episcopal Church has
a membership of around 20 while the
Sunday School has been temporarily
abandoned.
Thus it can be seen that the
churches as an aggregate have wide
diversified influence in shaping the
destiny of the city of Redwood Falls
Every church maintains several active
auxiliary organizations working con-
stantly along the lines of social well
fare. These organizations contribute
extensively to the upkeep and main
tenance Of the churches as well as
looking after the few poor families
that live in this county.
First Methodist Episcopal Church.
Of this denomination there are seven
churches in Redwood County, located
in Redwood Falls, Lamberton, Walnu!
Grove, Sanborn, Milroy and New
Avon.
The Methodist Episcopal Church OF
Redwood Falls is an institution OF
many years growth dating back to
October 1861 when it was organized
by Rev. Nathaniel Swift, who had
charge of the Redwood Falls circuii
belonging to the Manl1ato district
At the time of its organization eigh5
members were enrolled and the first
services were held in an old building
located at the corner of Main and JEFF
ferson streets. From the very first
the church has had steady and
healthy growth until now it has 6
membership of 693. A parsonage
was built as early as 1870, but it was
not until 1876 that the first churcl
edifice was erected, at cost $4,000
A new parsonage was built in 1881
and within few years the old church
was found to be too small to accomo-
date the growing membership, and, IL
lS94-5 the present edifice was erect
ed. This is a well-built structure
valued at over twenty thousand dol
lars. 1t is equipped with splendid
pipe organ. The body of the old
church was utilized in the new build.
ing and practically comprises the class
room wing of the present structure
1t is located at the corner of Third
and jefferson streets. The organi.
cations maintained by this church arc
the Sunday School, two divisions OF
the Epworth League, the Town and
Country divisions of the Ladies' Aid