Early in the spring of 1914, March 5, to be exact, five families arrived in Wimbledon from Fulton, Illinois. They were farmers, and came here because of the high cost of buying or renting land there, and the Dutch are known for their fear of debt.
The Martin Rose, Claus C. Huisenga, William Kamphuis, Ben Tervelt and Art Ven Huizen families were the first arrivals. The Sunday after their arrival they held services at the MARTIN ROSE home, and continued to have them that way for four years.
Meanwhile, several more families arrived, and several of the young people were married. The church services were conducted as the people were accustomed to doing in their former churches. Mr. Kampuis read a sermon, volunteers led prayers, and the old Dutch Psalms were sung.
Every now and then ministers were sent to the congregation by the Board of the Dakota Classes, most often the Reverend H. Vanderploeg of Litchville. As the crowd was becoming too large for the Rose home, services were held in the old Hemp school north of Wimbledon.
When the group organized a church with the help from Reverend Vanderploeg, each family promised to give the proceeds from an acre of potatoes. Building was started in the spring and all work was done by the men with the help of one carpenter. This was in the spring of 1917. Ground was donated by WILLIAM KAMPHUIS. The men made pews and other furnishings were donated or purchased. Dedication services were held in June. A ladies aid was organized with Mrs. Martin Rose as president. Harry Bultema was leader of the young people's society.
Elders and deacons were elected, services and Sunday school were held every Sunday. During summer months a seminary student conducted services and stayed at one of the homes.
About 1954 they joined the Presbyterian church of Courtenay and called a minister, a graduate student from Western Theological Seminary at Holland, Michigan. He stayed 3 1/2 years. After that the two churches had their summer student and the rest of the time a minister sent by the Dakota Classes from Jamestown College to conduct the services.
Meanwhile the congregation grew smaller. Several members died, some moved back to Illinois, and some joined other churches because they wanted their children to have more Christian education than a church without a leader can give.
The congregation's last meeting was held October 1, 1963. The money on hand was distributed to three new mission churches and the congregation unit as a whole attended the Wimbledon Methodist church. On Palm Sunday the Dover group joined the congregation, together with other new members.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 282