First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records


Summary Information
Title: First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records
Date: 1859-1936

Creator:
  • First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ (La Crosse, Wis.).
Unique Identifier: MSS 045, Micro 18

Quantity: 0.1 cubic feet

Physical Description: 1 reel of 35 mm microfilm

Repository:
La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:
La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:
Organized on January 22, 1852, the First Congregational Church is the second oldest church in La Crosse. The First Congregational Church of La Crosse, Wisconsin is affiliated nationally with the United Church of Christ.

Records on microfilm include congregational minutes, 1859-1883; lists of members received and removed, 1852-1915; baptisms, 1882-1936; and marriages, 1888-1936.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss045
 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

OCLC Number

47043534

Acquisitions Information

(Accession No. 1997.023) Purchased by the Archives with gift funds from the Genealogical Society of Utah with permission of Rev. Jerry Jordan, Oct. 1997. Originals filmed in July 1981; GSU control number 1306452.

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records, MSS 045, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Processing Information

Finding aid written by Anita Taylor Doering, Dec. 1997.

Scope and Contents

Records of First Congregational Church, 1859-1936, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, which is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, include congregational minutes, 1859-1883; lists of members received and removed, 1852-1915; baptisms, 1882-1936; and marriages, 1888-1936. Despite the early date of organization, the sacramental records do not begin until 1882 and 1888.

Originally there were three churches on this reel of microfilm. For patron ease, these have been spliced apart. As a result, this reel starts with item 5 instead of being labeled item 1. If the original volume had pagination (page numbers), then these are included in the reel list below.

Historical Note

Organized on January 22, 1852, the First Congregational Church is the second oldest church in La Crosse. On this day, twelve Congregationalists and Presbyterians formed a union church, and at the same time and place the First Baptist Church was being established at the home of S. T. Smith. The First Congregational Church became a member of the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin in October of 1855. A separate Presbyterian Church was organized in 1866.

Until a lot at the southeast corner of Fourth and Jay Streets was donated by the Peter Cameron estate for the completion of a church in December 1855, the members met at various locations such as the old wooden courthouse and the Old Third Ward brick school house. In 1870 the church at Fourth and Jay Streets was sold to the Norwegian Lutheran Church. A new church was built on the corner of Seventh and Main Streets in an American Gothic style. This building was partially razed after it was found to be structurally unsound, leaving only the 1931 addition across the back. The third church building was constructed at Losey Boulevard and Main Street with a dedication of the new church being held on September 13, 1953 (Haas, Charles E. Bless the Work of Our Hands . La Crosse, WI: First Congregational Church, 1984). The church at 2503 Main Street is a multi-level, flat-roofed structure with a Winona stone exterior. It is also complete with a large educational wing. Remodeling efforts of the fellowship hall and sanctuary have been accomplished in the 1990s.

Related Archival Materials note
(MSS CB, MSS PH at University of Wisconin-La Crosse Area Research Center)
First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records
(929.377572 R245 1976)
Record of marriages in which Rev. Henry Faville officiated while pastor at La Crosse, Wisconsin -- 27 December 1888 until 6 September 1913: First Congregational Church, by Naomi N. Holmlund
(285.877571 F519LB 1984)
Bless the work of our hands: a history of the First Congregational Church of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1852-1972, by Charles E. Haas
Subject Terms
  • First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ (La Crosse, Wis.).
  • United Church of Christ--Wisconsin--La Crosse.
  • Church records and registers--Wisconsin--La Crosse
Contents List
Reel 1
  Item 5
Index to Item 5
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 1
Pastors
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 3
Deacons
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 7
Other Officers
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 20-24
Subordinate List
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 25-32
Baptisms (chronological), 1900-1915
Members received (chronological)
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 33-57
, 1852-1914
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 71-72
, 1914-1915
Reel 1
  Item 5
  Page 58-69
Members removed (chronological), 1900-1915
Reel 1
  Item 6
  Page 1-221
Congregational Minutes, 1859-1882
Members received and dismissed (chronological)
Reel 1
  Item 6
  Page 380-385
, 1874-1881
Reel 1
  Item 6
  Page 420-436
, 1852-1874
Reel 1
  Item 7
  Page 1
Pastors
Reel 1
  Item 7
  Page 3
Deacons
Reel 1
  Item 7
  Page 15-45
Register of communicants (members received and removed, chronological), 1852-1889
Reel 1
  Item 7
  Page 55-62
Baptisms (chronological), 1882-1889
Reel 1
  Item 7
  Page 160-190
Congregational minutes, 1882-1883
Reel 1
  Item 8
  Page 1
Organizers of original church, 1852 January 22
Reel 1
  Item 8
  Page 2
Pastors
Reel 1
  Item 8
  Page 4
Deacons
Reel 1
  Item 8
  Page 8
Church committee
Reel 1
  Item 8
  Page 20-57
Register of communicants, 1852-1899
Reel 1
  Item 8
  Page 100-111
Baptisms, 1890-1899
Reel 1
  Item 8
  Page 162
Marriage, 1899
Reel 1
  Item 9
  Page 1
Index to Item 9
Reel 1
  Item 9
  Page 2
Pastors
Reel 1
  Item 9
  Page 25-37
Baptisms, 1915-1936
Reel 1
  Item 9
  Page 70-81
Marriages, 1914-1936
Rev. Henry Faville's log book of Marriages
Reel 1
  Item 10
, 1888-1909
Reel 1
  Item 10
  Page 13-37
, 1909-1913