The Cerro Gordo Church Of The Brethren

About us:
In May, 1856, a group of German Baptist Brethren (now known as the Church of the Brethren) met in the home of Daniel Kuns and organized the first German Baptist Brethren church in this area. The name at the time was Cerro Gordo, Macon County. By 1866 a three-way division was made within the territory: Milmine, Okaw (now La Place), and Cerro Gordo Macon County. The congregation continued to grow with many members living within the village of Cerro Gordo. In 1878 John Metzger decided to construct a church building at his own expense on the site of the present church. That structure was a white clapboard building with double entries separated by a tall bell tower. The first communion was held on Christmas, 1878. Although the congregation was growing and vigorous, the church was not officially organized until 1884. A year-round Sunday School program was also established at this time. This congregation became known as Cerro Gordo while the original congregation became known as Oakley. A rostrum in 1900 and a baptismal pool in 1902 were built in the church. Both of these were fairly new to our denomination at that time. In 1905 a new pulpit Bible and an invalid chair were purchased.

In 1908, during construction of a new church building on the same site, the congregation met in a tent immediately to the east of the building. Thirteen large Sunday School classes met on the morning of the new building’s dedication, April 18, 1909. The main address that day was given by the Rev. I.B. Trout of Lanark, Illinois. The razing of the old building and the construction of the new one cost $13,600, most of which had been paid by the morning of the dedication.