HISTORY OF BONDURANT CHRISTIAN CHURCH

                                                                           
The history of the Bondurant Christian Church began with the arrival of Alexander Conley Bondurant to Eastern Polk County in 1857. He moved here from Illinois and purchased a one-half section of land for $1.25 per acre.  In 1884, the town of Bondurant was born with the construction of its first business … a general store, and the first home. Upon completion of the general store, Sunday school classes and worship services were held above the store. The church was first called Bondurant Church of Christ.

As the community grew, so did the church membership. The first church building was erected on the current site in 1885 on land donated by the A. C. Bondurant family. On March 23, 1885 (with 19 charter members), the Christian Church was formally organized.  A. C. Bondurant and his family were prominent leaders in the church. By 1906, the membership grew to 130 members; and over the years, has been known as Church of Christ, Christian Church, and Bondurant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

Prior to World War I, a basement was added to provide classrooms and a kitchen. Work to finish the project was completed by volunteers, and the basement was dug by hand. In the spring of 1917, the Ladies Aid purchased at auction (from Bondurant schools) a school house for use as a parsonage, and it was moved to the corner of 4th & Grant Streets after the men of the church dug a basement for the home. Over the years, a second story was added with dormer windows, new siding and insulation, bathroom and kitchen. 

Sunday afternoon, February 14, 1932, the church burned to the ground due to an overheated furnace. By this time, the Congregational Church was established in Bondurant and they came to our assistance. Due to the Great Depression and only $1500 received from insurance, funds were not available to rebuild so an attempt to merge both congregations seemed logical. However, over time problems arose and a few of the Christian Church members started meeting in the church parsonage with nearby ministers conducting services (many were Drake University divinity students who traveled here from Des Moines by train and spent the night with host families).

In 1951 (with a membership of only 17 families), a venture of faith proceeded with plans for constructing the first phase of a new church on the current site. Fred Lingenfelter (A. C. Bondurant’s grandson) was among the church leaders supporting the project. November 9, 1952 was a day of celebration with the dedication of the education wing (Fellowship Hall), kitchen and basement at a total cost of $33,756.44. It was commendable that a debt of $20,000 was “paid in full” six years later. By 1957, the church grew to 200 members, and a new sanctuary was planned. Sanctuary construction was completed in the spring of 1959 and dedicated on January 10, 1960 … with a membership of 250. It is noteworthy to compare the church membership growth of 17 families in 1951 to 250 members in 1959!

In 1977, the original parsonage was sold and moved north of town. A paved parking lot would eventually take its place. To the west of the original parsonage, a new three bedroom, split-level parsonage was built on 4th Street and utilized until its sale in 2010.

On April 20-21, 1985, “100 Years of Faith and Service” was celebrated. The highlight of the two-day centennial festivities was the church re-dedication by our Regional Minister, Reverend Bill Miller. The desire of church members to please God in all that we do will surely find us continuing into the next 100 years in the same manner … faith and service to God.

In 1995-96, many people of faith once again agreed a working church needs to continue growing. An active Sunday school and young people’s groups, a desire to serve the community with an enlarged pre-school program, a planned youth outreach program and a growing membership all seemed to warrant the expansion. Construction of our newest addition began in 1998 and was dedicated June 6, 1999. As a result, we have an enlarged pre-school classroom area, new restrooms, expanded main foyer, an up-to-date and larger more functional kitchen, a large Fellowship Hall, storage closet for Fellowship Hall and maintenance use, multiple classrooms, nursery with direct restroom access, pastor and admin offices with a work room/copy room/storage for office supplies.

In the past few years, we have enjoyed many projects and successes, including continued increased enrollment in our pre-school program; incorporation of contemporary music into our Sunday morning services; the addition of an electronic sign; new audio-visual equipment; carpet and lighting replacement in the sanctuary in 2012; needed replacement of the roof, furnaces and air conditioning in 2014, and all the windows replaced in our fellowship hall in 2017.

We have had many ministers nurture our needs throughout the past 130 years of our church’s ministry, and we give thanks to all who have passed our way and grant blessings to those who are yet to come. May God continue to bless us as we seek His will in service to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the year of our Lord 2017