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Bethel Church (Morning Sun, Iowa)

Coordinates: 41°06′37″N 91°11′14″W / 41.11035833°N 91.18711389°W / 41.11035833; -91.18711389
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Bethel Church
Bethel Church in 2013.
Bethel Church (Morning Sun, Iowa) is located in Iowa
Bethel Church (Morning Sun, Iowa)
Bethel Church (Morning Sun, Iowa) is located in the United States
Bethel Church (Morning Sun, Iowa)
LocationNE of Morning Sun, off US 61
Coordinates41°06′37″N 91°11′14″W / 41.11035833°N 91.18711389°W / 41.11035833; -91.18711389
Area1.8 acres (0.73 ha)
Built1855
Built byFrancis McGraw
Architectural styleVernacular
NRHP reference No.79003698[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 22, 1979

Bethel Church is a historic church building in rural Morning Sun, Iowa, United States. The congregation was organized by the Wapello mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Iowa in 1854. In addition to the Morning Sun congregation, the Wapello mission included congregations in Concord, Long Creek, and two in Wapello.[2] The property for the church building and its adjacent cemetery was donated by Merit Jamison. Members of the congregation built the building under the supervision of stonemason Francis McGraw. The limestone structure is a Vernacular form of Iowa folk architecture. The small cornice returns are influenced by the Greek Revival style. The plain interior features plastered walls, plank flooring and wood-carved furnishings from the church's early years. The iron fence that runs along the gravel road was added in 1861. The church is no used for regularly scheduled services.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b M.H. Bowers. "Bethel Church" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-11-26. with photos