The early settlers of this area, like those of nearby communities, brought with them their particular religious beliefs and traditions. However, for the Blacks with their Scottish Presbyterian background, the Julius family from Pennsylvania who were German Reformed and the Bakeys who were members of the German Methodist Church, there were no places of worship closer than Fort Dodge. It was the merging of these three families and a number of others, which resulted in the founding of a new congregation. Before the first church was built in 1898, the group met in various homes and was called a County Mission. The Rev. Milton Greene of Fort Dodge was a member of the committee on home missions from 1894 to 1898. The group was a mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Dodge, and it was through his efforts that Calvary was organized. The first church building was constructed at its present site 2 1/2 miles southwest of Barnum and dedicated in 1898. With the vision of Rev. Greene, Calvary has always been a church with a mission. In 1936, the church building was struck by lightening and burned to the ground. The present building was erected on the same site. Adjoining the churchyard is Calvary Cemetery where many founders and early members of the church are buried. The church has 24 active members spanning nine decades. Calvary today continues to be a congregation, which supports missions both home and abroad.
If you wish to print off a quality version of this information with a picture of the church at the top, please open this history file.
