Grace Reformed Church
46°23'24.9"N 101°42'14.0"W
Elm Street S & Zeller Avenue W
Heil, Elm Township, North Dakota 58533
46°23'24.9"N 101°42'14.0"W
Elm Street S & Zeller Avenue W
Heil, Elm Township, North Dakota 58533
The history of Grace Reformed Church of Heil, North Dakota, begins with the German immigrants who followed the developing railroads at the close of the American frontier. Among these early settlers in Elm District services were begun by the Rev. C.T. Nuss of the South Dakota Classis in 1912. On July 28, 1912, the eighteen families of the Elm Mission organized into Grace Reformed Church with Michael Heil and Henry Heil as elders. Charter members were besides the two elders, John Wuest Sr., Christian Finck, Wm. Finck, Fred Hauck, Adam Finck, Fred Finck, John Wuest Jr., Wm. Heil, Gottlieb Will, Albert Heil, Christian Dietz, Gottfried Vossler, John Bender, Michael Spangenberger, and Joseph Werre.
The first pastor to serve the church was the Rev. John Grossmann who had been serving at Medina, North Dakota. He came in October and by that time the congregation had purchased a parsonage for $1,165.00 for the pastor and his family. The first few year's church services were held in a little schoolhouse just north of the N.P. Railroad tracks. In the summer of 1914, the present church building was built on lots donated by William Heil just south of the parsonage. The church was dedicated in the fall of 1914 on the same day that mission fest services were held. The consistory members at that time were: Henry Heil, Jacob Stegmeier, elders; John Wuest and Konrad Zimbleman, deacons; and George Bentz, Sr. and George Keierleber, trustees.
In 1916 the Rev. J. Schweikhardt was called to serve the congregation. He resigned in 1920 due to ill health, but by that time the congregation numbered thirty families. Rev. Joseph Balcar was called, and he served two years. He was followed by Rev. W. Schmidt, the last resident pastor. After that the church was served by Classis pastors who would take turns to serve the congregation.
On Sunday, August 30th, 1964, Grace Reformed Church congregation observed its Fiftieth Anniversary. In the past few years other Classis pastors have served the Heil congregation with the Rev. Don Treick serving for several years and resigning a year ago and moving to California.
Information - Elgin, North Dakota: 75th diamond jubilee, 1910-1985
The first pastor to serve the church was the Rev. John Grossmann who had been serving at Medina, North Dakota. He came in October and by that time the congregation had purchased a parsonage for $1,165.00 for the pastor and his family. The first few year's church services were held in a little schoolhouse just north of the N.P. Railroad tracks. In the summer of 1914, the present church building was built on lots donated by William Heil just south of the parsonage. The church was dedicated in the fall of 1914 on the same day that mission fest services were held. The consistory members at that time were: Henry Heil, Jacob Stegmeier, elders; John Wuest and Konrad Zimbleman, deacons; and George Bentz, Sr. and George Keierleber, trustees.
In 1916 the Rev. J. Schweikhardt was called to serve the congregation. He resigned in 1920 due to ill health, but by that time the congregation numbered thirty families. Rev. Joseph Balcar was called, and he served two years. He was followed by Rev. W. Schmidt, the last resident pastor. After that the church was served by Classis pastors who would take turns to serve the congregation.
On Sunday, August 30th, 1964, Grace Reformed Church congregation observed its Fiftieth Anniversary. In the past few years other Classis pastors have served the Heil congregation with the Rev. Don Treick serving for several years and resigning a year ago and moving to California.
Information - Elgin, North Dakota: 75th diamond jubilee, 1910-1985