Our History
"Truth Prevails" in English and Czech
First Presbyterian Church near Ely, founded in 1858, is located in the country a mile or so west of Ely, Iowa. Our church was created to fill the spiritual needs of the early Czech settlers in the area.
Originally, the church was called the "First Bohemian & Moravian Brethren Church". The Rev. František Kun was the first ordained minister and accepted the call October 1, 1860, at a salary of $60.00 a year. Rev. Kun was a pioneer missionary who helped found at least 10 Czech congregations and churches not only in Iowa, but also in surrounding states during his thirty years as our pastor.
The church building originally sat about one mile south of where it is presently located, in what is now our church cemetery. The cornerstone was laid October 1, 1867, and dedicated on July 5, 1868. The original structure still exists within our now expanded walls.
As the congregation grew, two additional churches were organized in the area to serve the Czech families. One, the Bohemian Reformed Evangelical Church, was located at the site of the Rogers Grove Cemetery and the other, the Evangelical Bohemian Moravian Reformed Brethren, was west of Swisher. All three churches were served by a common pastor. The three congregations are now merged and served by the mother church west of Ely.
Having been an independent congregation since its beginning, the congregation joined with the Presbyterian Church USA in 1958.
The First Presbyterian Church near Ely has been served by the following Pastors over the 150+ years:
1859-1894 František Kun
1894-1909 Joseph Balcar
1910-1938 Francis Pokorny
1938-1951 Ludvik Burian
1952-1961 Francis Larew
1961-1963 Beno Stadler
1964-1971 Arthur Nash
1972-1988 James C. DeSmidt
1988-1990 Keith Orr (Interim)
1990-1993 Debra L. Paton
1993-1994 Mary Hay (Interim)
1995-2007 Robert David
2007-2009 Heather Hayes (Interim)
2009 - Julie A. Schuett
Our History Committee has church history booklets available for ordering. Please click here if interested.
Originally, the church was called the "First Bohemian & Moravian Brethren Church". The Rev. František Kun was the first ordained minister and accepted the call October 1, 1860, at a salary of $60.00 a year. Rev. Kun was a pioneer missionary who helped found at least 10 Czech congregations and churches not only in Iowa, but also in surrounding states during his thirty years as our pastor.
The church building originally sat about one mile south of where it is presently located, in what is now our church cemetery. The cornerstone was laid October 1, 1867, and dedicated on July 5, 1868. The original structure still exists within our now expanded walls.
As the congregation grew, two additional churches were organized in the area to serve the Czech families. One, the Bohemian Reformed Evangelical Church, was located at the site of the Rogers Grove Cemetery and the other, the Evangelical Bohemian Moravian Reformed Brethren, was west of Swisher. All three churches were served by a common pastor. The three congregations are now merged and served by the mother church west of Ely.
Having been an independent congregation since its beginning, the congregation joined with the Presbyterian Church USA in 1958.
The First Presbyterian Church near Ely has been served by the following Pastors over the 150+ years:
1859-1894 František Kun
1894-1909 Joseph Balcar
1910-1938 Francis Pokorny
1938-1951 Ludvik Burian
1952-1961 Francis Larew
1961-1963 Beno Stadler
1964-1971 Arthur Nash
1972-1988 James C. DeSmidt
1988-1990 Keith Orr (Interim)
1990-1993 Debra L. Paton
1993-1994 Mary Hay (Interim)
1995-2007 Robert David
2007-2009 Heather Hayes (Interim)
2009 - Julie A. Schuett
Our History Committee has church history booklets available for ordering. Please click here if interested.