2. Congregation Histories : Iowa

Cedar Rapids

History of the People Church Unitarian-Universalist

The Peoples Church (Unitarian Universalist), the current manifestation of the liberal religion in Cedar Rapids, stands on the shoulders of many giants and is the result of several changes in character during its history.

It was originally a Universalist Church, incorporated in 1870. An attempt in the 1850s to start a Universalist church in Cedar Rapids failed due to local opposition and the dispersal of some of its leaders.

The cornerstone for the present building was laid in 1875, and the sanctuary on the second floor was completed in 1878.

A succession of ministers during the first thirty years of the church’s life struggled to keep the finances up. Though the church was blessed with a few substantial donations, it became indebted to the Iowa Universalist Convention during this time.

A major turning point came with the selection of the Rev. Joseph Fort Newton in 1908. An eloquent speaker, he had a compelling vision of a non-dogmatic liberal Christian community church. He had come under the condition that the church should be a liberal Christian church (Universalist). During his tenure the membership reached 500 members. He left in 1917 to serve the City Temple in London and later Episcopalian churches in New York City and Philadelphia. He also wrote a syndicated column of spiritual advice that appeared nationally. His ministry marked the beginning of the strong community role of the church and its ministers.

About 1920, the church changed its name to The Peoples Christian Church, and withdrew from the Iowa Universalist Convention. There was an effort to merge with the Congregational Church, which failed. Finally the church called a Baptist, W. Waldemar W. Argow, of New York City. The church grew rapidly, with 163 members joining the church between 1921 and 1924. In 1928, there was an invitation for the church to join the American Unitarian Association, with the benefit that the AUA would lend the church $10,000, and pay off the debt to the Iowa Universalist Convention.

Dr. Argow left in 1930 to accept a call at May Memorial Church in Syracuse, NY. His successor, Rev. Melvin Welke, arrived with the Depression. The church struggled financially through those years, but had a quite active life, nevertheless. In 1938, Rev Welke accepted a call to the First Unitarian Church in Cincinnati. Rev. Rudy Gilbert was called then, but within a year discovered he had tuberculosis. Between leaves of absence and an every other week preaching schedule, the church failed to keep up, despite the opportunity to hear other UU ministers and various interesting speakers. In 1944, the church called Waldemar Argow, the son of W.W.W. Argow.

Soon the church was again full of energy and drive with book lectures, the development of a social action committee, and other community building activities.

In 1948, the name of the church was changed from The Peoples Christian Church to The Peoples Church. In 1949, Polly Ely became chair of the Religious Education committee. The church school developed a puppeteer program, and in the mid 50s dramatized the life of Schweitzer, also exchanging letters with him.

In 1956, a new wing was added to the church for expanded office space and religious education work. In 1957, Argow left to become the minister of the Unitarian church in Toledo. He was followed by Napoleon Lovely, father of Brandy and Ruppert, currently ministers in the UUA. In 1963, Walter Kellison came, and was known for the diversity of worship and his involvement in community affairs. He died in 1975, and the church called Judith Urquhart, its first woman minister. She has left a record of outstanding preaching and denominational involvement. After the church had an interim ministry of half a year in 1984, Jeremy Brigham arrived in August 1984, after having served churches in Tempe, Arizona, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio.

The church currently has about 175 members and a $75,000 budget. Sunday school averages around 50 each week. The members are well known and respected in community affairs. A long-range planning committee is beginning to work on handicapped access to the building. The future looks promising for Peoples Church.

(Author not noted)