Dutchtown: The 150th Celebration

Dutchtown Church of the Brethren, a little country church about three miles west of Milledgeville on Dutchtown Road, is celebrating its century and a half of existence. The celebration begins Saturday September 20th at 3pm as former members arrive and are greeted by current members. Children's activities are planned. Following a meal, Don Eubanks and his band will provide gospel music entertainment to begin at approximately 6 pm Saturday. Sunday worship begins at 8 am with a coffee hour. The worship service is at 9:30 am. A catered meal at noon ends the celebration.

The Milledgeville Church of the Brethren was organized in the fall of 1858 by a group of Pennsylvania Dutch who had settled in the area. They were able to purchase land from the government for $1.50 an acre. A Love Feast was held at the organizational meeting.

There were 30 charter members. Henry Myers, originally from Maryland, was instrumental in organizing the church. He and his family traveled by horse and wagon, a cargo boat and train to get to Dutchtown.

The first church services were held in Myers' home and later in a schoolhouse. About 1860, the ground was dedicated for the church and cemetery. The church was finished in 1866.

The church that was first built still stands today with some additions. Rocks for the wall were taken from a nearby quarry. Lumber had to be hauled long distances since the railroad had not yet reached Milledgeville. The church measured 30 by 66 feet. It cost $2,200.

The church was the usual type Brethren style with two entrances, one for the men and one for the women. Men and women also sat on opposite sides of the sanctuary. The early Brethren were a plain people, so the church was built very plain. The church was remodeled in 1915 and again extensively remodeled in 1955.

Currently, the Dutchtown Church of the Brethren is being remodeled once again. The addition will house four new classrooms, two new offices, a new bathroom, a larger nursery, as well as extra room in the sanctuary. The new addition is necessary since, in the last ten years, worship attendance has gone from 83 to 103.

The Church of the Brethren is no longer simply a Milledgeville church. Active families come from Shannon, Lanark, Chadwick, Sterling, Polo and Rock Falls. There is a strong ministry for children and youth as well as junior and senior high youth groups. Church camp is important to these age groups. Church fellowship is important to the Church of the Brethren.

Coffee hours are held each Sunday that the choir sings; they have a meal together once a month; the Young at Heart class meets regularly and invites those who do not attend church; men of the church take complete charge of the Women of Dutchtown Banquet; groups travel to where there have been natural disasters to help rebuild homes that have been ruined.

There was no pulpit in that early church. Instead a long table was provided where lay ministers sat facing the congregation. A history of the church records: "It was not decided which of the many ministers present would preach until service had begun. The preachers would sit behind the long table and nudge one another to induce one to stand and speak. Each Sunday morning one of the ministers would finally stand and say what was on his heart." Pastor Rick Koch, who has been here for 18 years, said "We continue to give God the glory for the way he has blessed us and are anxious to find where He will lead us in future years."