The Christian church was organized in 1875, with twenty members, and holds services at Farwell Hall. Elder J. H. Wright is the pastor. The membership is now about one hundred. A flourishing Sunday School of over fifty scholars is attached to the church, under the superintendence of W. F. Eastman, one of the editors and proprietors of the Sterling Gazette, who is assisted by six teachers. The society contemplates erecting a church edifice very soon.
Source: Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877
The Christian church was organized in 1875 wiht 20 charter members. It wsa through the consecration and sacrifice of these twenty, with the aid of the Rev. Knowles B. Shaw that a church "sprung up in a day." Many of our citizens will never forget the wonderful success that attended the great tent meeting in Central Park in August of 1875. Their first place of worship was Colcord's Hall; this soon became too small when the society rented Farwell hall and some time after, what is now known as the Armory, and in 1888 they purchased the present place of worship. Thier growth from the beginning has been steady; no year have the removals by death or any other cause equalled the additions.
From this society five have already entered the ministry and three have given themselves to missionary work. Their Missionary Society includes every member of the church. From its treasury all branches of missionary work receive equal aid. The young people are organized into a thoroughly active C.E. society and the Junior society has the honor of possessing the missionary banner of Whiteside county. The finance is a most encouraging condition and the present membership is 220. Rev. Silas Jones the present pastor.
From the Sterling Standard Dec. 11, 1896