Grandin Presbyterian Church
401 Brown Ave
Grandin, Cass County, North Dakota 58038
401 Brown Ave
Grandin, Cass County, North Dakota 58038
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This church had its beginning in 1882. Mrs. J.A. Anderson, one of the charter members, wrote a record of the early church. The following is her story: This organization was organized in 1882, in connection with Hendrum and Quincy. The first service was in rooms over Clement and John's store, where they continued for some time. The ministers were all supplies. From there they moved to the schoolhouse in the year 1883. The minister was the Rev. Glenn Dinnen. Also, for a while there were supplies.
From there the services were held in a hall over William Pratt's Livery Stable. The Rev. Dugan was the minister, and other supplies were there also. After leaving William Pratt's Hall the church disbanded for a while. This was in the year of 1886.
Then the Methodists organized a church and the people all attended there for some time. When the Presbyterians reorganized, they held services above Mr. Duntley's hardware store. Just supplies were used there. Then a supply minister held special meetings and gathered in the old members and quite a number of the young people, of which the older part of the MacFarlane family and the older part of the Anderson family all came in new members and many others also. Then the plans for having a new church building were made. Rev. Newton was the minister, preaching in the hall for over a year before the church building was completed. This was the year 1899. Rev. Newton preached in the new church for a while. After he left, supplies filled the pulpit.
Then Rev. T.D. Whittles became pastor of the church for three years. After he left, Rev. Youngward was the minister for nine months, then supplies were used for a time, when a young man by the name of Thomalson became the minister for a while. Following him, a Rev. Robertson became pastor for about two years. This is up to the year 1910. (This ends Mrs. Anderson' s story.)
The charter members of the first organized church were Mrs. J.A. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McFarlane and David McSparron. When the church reorganized in 1896, Rev. F.M. Wood served as moderator. The following persons were taken in membership. John A. Anderson, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson, David McSparron, Duncan McFarlane, Mrs. Isabelle MacFarlane and by letter, Robert E. Miller, Mrs. Beatrice Miller and Mrs. Mary McKenzie from Blanchard Presbyterian, Wm. Watson and Mrs. Wm. Watson from Fargo Presbyterian, Dr. J. Hotson, Mrs. M. Hotson and Mrs. Bessie Rintoul from Quincy church. Mrs. Ann Margach brought a letter of recommendation from Aberlemno, Scotland and was enrolled, also Dr. Fisher on his promise to secure a letter from Quincy, North Dakota.
Rev. T.D. Whittles is listed as the first minister of the new church. The following dedicated pastors served ministry in the Presbyterian church: Rev. Dinnen, Rev. Dugan, Rev. Zoll, Rev. Lang, Rev. Whittles, Rev. Jonward, Rev. Morrison, Rev. Brand, Rev. Shibli, Rev. F.H. Newton, Rev. H.D. Robertson (1917-1919), Rev. H.E. Jones (1919-21), Rev. Huey (1922-25), Rev. Sherwin, Rev. John McDonald, Rev. Robert Grey, Rev. Barnum, Rev. J.H. Moffitt, Rev. Taylor (1952-57). Rev. Taylor resigned effective January 1, 1957. Rev. E.A. Gruenick presided as moderator until Rev. R. Robert Elkin (Sept. 1957-65) accepted the call to serve the Grandin and Hendrum churches; Rev. Marvin Miller (1967-72), Harry Meyers and Rev. James Moore III (1972-73), Mr. Harry Meyers and Rev. Bob McLarry as associate pastor and Rev. Emery Roy of Fargo as active moderator (1973-75). Rev. James Rodda accepted the call for a pastor July 1, 1975.
The Sunday School was organized in May of 1897. In the same year it was voted to unite Grandin, Quincy and Hendrum churches with Rev. Alan Lang as minster.
Services were held over Duntley and Thom's store. In 1899 the new church was built on the present site. The Willing Workers placed the pulpit furniture, and the bell was given by the Busy Bees, a girl’s organization. A very beautiful organ was installed which has since been replaced by a Hammond Electric.
The first minister of the new church was Rev. T.D. Whittles, who had Rev. Koehler as an assistant minister. Rev. Whittles married Miss Sara L. Canning of Hendrum and moved to northern Minnesota. He became interested in church work among the lumber camps and wrote several books regarding the work and life there.
Dr. Hotson gave his house to the church for a manse, as he and his family were moving to Alberta, Canada. In 1919 the manse was sold to Mr. and Mrs. T.F. Clapp and Dr. Fisher's house was purchased. Rev. H. E. Jones was the first minister to live in the new manse, 1919-21.
During these years many changes took place: The teenage people's group, "Triangle," was organized in 1926; a modern and beautiful manse was built in 1952. In 1954, the church was remodeled with a modernized kitchen and new oil furnace. The Willing Workers became United Presbyterian Women in 1952. Contributions to the memorial fund in honor of the MacFarlane ancestors purchased organ chimes in 1967. A lightning caused a fire on September 3, 1971, which did heavy damage to the church steeple. The bell tower was taken down. The church bell is a permanent fixture alongside the church in a memorial bell stand. In 1975, the Hendrum church closed its doors. Faith United Parish was formed including Hunter, Erie, and Grandin. Moderator Rev. Emery Roy of Fargo spent much time to help Faith United Parish.
In 1976, a 20 by 44-foot addition with full basement was built on the west side of the church and also a complete remodeling of the sanctuary. A carillon system was added. The work of the parish council in 1977 involved the seeking and inviting of Intern Wally Boris for the June 1977-August 1978 period. Intern Boris proved to be very good for the people and to Rev. Rodda, who worked very hard to make the three-point parish a great success.
Rev. John McDonald who served from 1932-1937 had the honor of having the first wedding in the church, that of June Cormack and Arnold Slinde.
During Rev. Moffatt's ministry in Grandin, he was given a leave of absence to visit his son who was in government service in Pakistan, and he also visited his old home in Ireland and Scotland.
Of the past congregations, John Barnum and Mark Duntley entered the ministry. At present there are 119 members, 45 in Sunday School, 29 UPW members and 10 in the Fellowship group.
Present officers of the church are Session: J.B. Humphrey, Myrna Mettler, Erma Peterson, A.E. Peterson, M.H. Gifford and Wesley Ecker. Trustees: Lillian Christian, Margaret Foster, Marlin Stokke, Glenn Porter, and Donald Graalum. Treasurer: Dennis Peterson. Clerk of Session: Robert Mettler.
Information -Grandin Centennial, 1881-1981: Grandin, North Dakota (Page 55, 56 & 57)
From there the services were held in a hall over William Pratt's Livery Stable. The Rev. Dugan was the minister, and other supplies were there also. After leaving William Pratt's Hall the church disbanded for a while. This was in the year of 1886.
Then the Methodists organized a church and the people all attended there for some time. When the Presbyterians reorganized, they held services above Mr. Duntley's hardware store. Just supplies were used there. Then a supply minister held special meetings and gathered in the old members and quite a number of the young people, of which the older part of the MacFarlane family and the older part of the Anderson family all came in new members and many others also. Then the plans for having a new church building were made. Rev. Newton was the minister, preaching in the hall for over a year before the church building was completed. This was the year 1899. Rev. Newton preached in the new church for a while. After he left, supplies filled the pulpit.
Then Rev. T.D. Whittles became pastor of the church for three years. After he left, Rev. Youngward was the minister for nine months, then supplies were used for a time, when a young man by the name of Thomalson became the minister for a while. Following him, a Rev. Robertson became pastor for about two years. This is up to the year 1910. (This ends Mrs. Anderson' s story.)
The charter members of the first organized church were Mrs. J.A. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McFarlane and David McSparron. When the church reorganized in 1896, Rev. F.M. Wood served as moderator. The following persons were taken in membership. John A. Anderson, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson, David McSparron, Duncan McFarlane, Mrs. Isabelle MacFarlane and by letter, Robert E. Miller, Mrs. Beatrice Miller and Mrs. Mary McKenzie from Blanchard Presbyterian, Wm. Watson and Mrs. Wm. Watson from Fargo Presbyterian, Dr. J. Hotson, Mrs. M. Hotson and Mrs. Bessie Rintoul from Quincy church. Mrs. Ann Margach brought a letter of recommendation from Aberlemno, Scotland and was enrolled, also Dr. Fisher on his promise to secure a letter from Quincy, North Dakota.
Rev. T.D. Whittles is listed as the first minister of the new church. The following dedicated pastors served ministry in the Presbyterian church: Rev. Dinnen, Rev. Dugan, Rev. Zoll, Rev. Lang, Rev. Whittles, Rev. Jonward, Rev. Morrison, Rev. Brand, Rev. Shibli, Rev. F.H. Newton, Rev. H.D. Robertson (1917-1919), Rev. H.E. Jones (1919-21), Rev. Huey (1922-25), Rev. Sherwin, Rev. John McDonald, Rev. Robert Grey, Rev. Barnum, Rev. J.H. Moffitt, Rev. Taylor (1952-57). Rev. Taylor resigned effective January 1, 1957. Rev. E.A. Gruenick presided as moderator until Rev. R. Robert Elkin (Sept. 1957-65) accepted the call to serve the Grandin and Hendrum churches; Rev. Marvin Miller (1967-72), Harry Meyers and Rev. James Moore III (1972-73), Mr. Harry Meyers and Rev. Bob McLarry as associate pastor and Rev. Emery Roy of Fargo as active moderator (1973-75). Rev. James Rodda accepted the call for a pastor July 1, 1975.
The Sunday School was organized in May of 1897. In the same year it was voted to unite Grandin, Quincy and Hendrum churches with Rev. Alan Lang as minster.
Services were held over Duntley and Thom's store. In 1899 the new church was built on the present site. The Willing Workers placed the pulpit furniture, and the bell was given by the Busy Bees, a girl’s organization. A very beautiful organ was installed which has since been replaced by a Hammond Electric.
The first minister of the new church was Rev. T.D. Whittles, who had Rev. Koehler as an assistant minister. Rev. Whittles married Miss Sara L. Canning of Hendrum and moved to northern Minnesota. He became interested in church work among the lumber camps and wrote several books regarding the work and life there.
Dr. Hotson gave his house to the church for a manse, as he and his family were moving to Alberta, Canada. In 1919 the manse was sold to Mr. and Mrs. T.F. Clapp and Dr. Fisher's house was purchased. Rev. H. E. Jones was the first minister to live in the new manse, 1919-21.
During these years many changes took place: The teenage people's group, "Triangle," was organized in 1926; a modern and beautiful manse was built in 1952. In 1954, the church was remodeled with a modernized kitchen and new oil furnace. The Willing Workers became United Presbyterian Women in 1952. Contributions to the memorial fund in honor of the MacFarlane ancestors purchased organ chimes in 1967. A lightning caused a fire on September 3, 1971, which did heavy damage to the church steeple. The bell tower was taken down. The church bell is a permanent fixture alongside the church in a memorial bell stand. In 1975, the Hendrum church closed its doors. Faith United Parish was formed including Hunter, Erie, and Grandin. Moderator Rev. Emery Roy of Fargo spent much time to help Faith United Parish.
In 1976, a 20 by 44-foot addition with full basement was built on the west side of the church and also a complete remodeling of the sanctuary. A carillon system was added. The work of the parish council in 1977 involved the seeking and inviting of Intern Wally Boris for the June 1977-August 1978 period. Intern Boris proved to be very good for the people and to Rev. Rodda, who worked very hard to make the three-point parish a great success.
Rev. John McDonald who served from 1932-1937 had the honor of having the first wedding in the church, that of June Cormack and Arnold Slinde.
During Rev. Moffatt's ministry in Grandin, he was given a leave of absence to visit his son who was in government service in Pakistan, and he also visited his old home in Ireland and Scotland.
Of the past congregations, John Barnum and Mark Duntley entered the ministry. At present there are 119 members, 45 in Sunday School, 29 UPW members and 10 in the Fellowship group.
Present officers of the church are Session: J.B. Humphrey, Myrna Mettler, Erma Peterson, A.E. Peterson, M.H. Gifford and Wesley Ecker. Trustees: Lillian Christian, Margaret Foster, Marlin Stokke, Glenn Porter, and Donald Graalum. Treasurer: Dennis Peterson. Clerk of Session: Robert Mettler.
Information -Grandin Centennial, 1881-1981: Grandin, North Dakota (Page 55, 56 & 57)