New Leon church to be dedicated Aug. 22

After rising from the void of its predecessor over the past year, the new and improved First Congregational Church of Leon is getting ready to begin services.

The church will be holding its dedication and open house Sunday, Aug. 22, beginning at 10 a.m. The speaker will be Rev. Larry Correll, the Wisconsin CCCC Conference area representative.

The open house will run from 11 a.m. to noon with coffee and cake in the Fellowship Hall. The theme for the dedication will be “To God be the Glory.’

John Schmitz and Associates constructed the new 40-foot by 80-foot structure for just over $240,000. The ground breaking was held July 26, 2020.

Pastor Don Ehler, who has headed up the church for the past eight years, said over half of the project was paid for through “love gifts.”

The building houses a large sanctuary/worship center with compatible pews, a nursery, a pastor’s room and a large entryway/foyer. It has no steps or ramps and is equipped with the latest in sound and lighting.

The church can’t be missed in the tiny berg of Leon just south of Sparta. It is located on the east side Hwy. 27 at the south end of the village.

The former First Congregational Church of Leon stood on the site for 150 years before it was torn down last summer. Ehler said it had  become too deteriorated to fix up. Still, it was a cherished part of the community.

The old church was built at an original cost of $2,000 and dedicated in 1866. It was remodeled and redecorated twice before it was 100 years old.

A furnace was installed in 1909, as well as maple flooring, an improved lighting system and new pews. More improvements were made in 1937, using a bequest to the church.

An extensive remodeling of the structure, including a new basement, kitchen and gas heat, was completed in 1962.

A new alter and rail were installed in 1974 and new carpet and a lighted cross were donated by church members in 1984. In 1967, when Ehler, fresh out of the seminary, came to the congregation for his first assignment, a parsonage was built just up the street.

Ehler, who had retired after serving 40 years in Hillsboro, returned at the request of the late Rev. Richard Abernathy, who was pastor at Leon from 2000 until his health gave out in 2013.

The congregation’s Fellowship Hall, which sat behind the church, is where services were being conducted until the new structure was completed.

The Fellowship Hall was built five years ago and has enough room to accommodate the congregation.

The pews, alter and other furnishings were stored in a semi-trailer located onsite. Martin Trucking of Wilton donated the use of the trailer.

The bell from the old church was salvaged along with other irreplaceable items but the rest of the church and furnishing were offered to congregants who wanted things to remember the old structure by before it was razed.