HISTORY

135 Years of Grace

The history of Grace Lutheran Church reaches back to Lutheran groups that were formed in Green County by the Synod of Northern Illinois. As early as 1859, a group of Lutherans formed Richland Lutheran Church in Jefferson Township, about three miles east of Monroe. In 1874 a church with a seating capacity of 200 and a cost of $2,750 was built on two acres of land purchased for $160 near the Richland Corners. (This is the building that was eventually moved to Monroe.) The Oak Hill cemetery, sometimes called Richland or Austin cemetery is across the road. Rev J.A. Beidler served Richland, Spring Grove and Twin Grove from 1874-1876 when Rev. J.M. Rees of the Iowa Synod succeeded him.

Spring Grove Lutheran Church was organized in 1866 by Rev S. Cook of the Northern Illinois Synod. They had a church building at that time with a seating capacity of 150. The church was often referred to as the “Klaas Church” after Louis Klass who donated the land and much of the money for building the church. There was also a small cemetery, but no signs of the church or cemetery exist today.

In 1874 Twin Grove the English Lutheran Church was organized. Sixteen people were present and Rev R.A. Beidler was called to be Pastor. The Oakley Lutheran and Rock Grove parishes joined in a re-alignment of these three churches. In 1877 a church building was erected that included a tower and bell at a cost of $2,775.71. A parsonage was purchased for $250. The members were closely related to the Oakley Union Church, in which both Lutherans and Reformed congregations co-operate. The Twin Grove parish functioned until the 1930s. 

Salem Lutheran Church was organized in 1868 by Rev J.K. Bloom who was a former pastor of Richland Lutheran from 1864-1866. They first built a church at Shueyville, one-half mile east of Clarno, and shared the building with the German Reformed Congregation until it died off at the turn of the century. A second church was built in West Clarno. The entire community was composed mostly of Pennsylvania Dutch. The church closed in 1938, and the building was torn down in 1939. 

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