GLADBROOK – On Oct. 12, 2020, Chapel Church – located at 1597 Abbott Avenue in rural Gladbrook roughly four miles west of Union Grove State Park – burned to the ground. It was a devastating loss for the congregation not to mention the rural community as a whole; however, an exciting groundbreaking service in celebration of a future new church building was held last Wednesday, September 11.
Looking back, Chapel Church had its beginning in 1867, meeting in a home where Stine Seed Company is today. Later, they moved to the Burt Schoolhouse, and in 1873-74, they built and moved into their first church building.
In 1946, the church’s name became Gladbrook Chapel Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church. Because of the merger in 1968 with the Methodists, it became Gladbrook Chapel United Methodist Church. Celebration Sunday for the 150th anniversary service was held on September 17, 2017…