United Church of Christ
Box 332
1002 College Street
Springfield, SD 57062
Phone: (605)369-2360
E-Mail :Pastor
The Congregational Church, now the United Church of Christ,
Springfield was organized on November 4, 1871, but had its origin in the
ministrations of Rev. Joseph Ward who held the first service in Springfield
in 1870. It is the fifth oldest church of the Congregational denomination
in the state of South Dakota; only the churches at Vermillion, Elk Point,
Yankton and Old Bon Homme are older.
Rev. Ward, who later founded Yankton College, conducted the first service in Springfield in 1870 in what was then the Government land office on 6th Street. The building was later remodeled into a residence. He also later on, held meetings at intervals. The church was actually organized on November 4, 1871 by the Rev. Stewart Sheldon, who at that time was superintendent of the Congregational work in Dakota.
Like all pioneer churches, this one had a precarious existence for several years. Meeting were held irregularly and in any empty building such as a tim shop, a loft over a carpenter shop, the lumber yard, hay loft, in homes and finally in the hall over what later became the post office. At the time the church was organized, there were seven charter members. These were: Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hitchcock, Mrs. Phoebe Wood, Mrs. Serepta Mead, George Owens, I.J. Smith and H.J. Smith. This was the first religious organization in the community and the first Congregational Church in the county.
After being organized, the church was served by near-by pastors until 1872 when G.N. Binks was chosen as pastor. he remained until 1873. In 1874 Rev. Charles L. Hall came. He was the first resident minister and served until 1876 when he was called into Indian missionary work in North Dakota.
In the summer of 1874, the first effort toward obtaining a house of worship was made. However, the coming of the grasshoppers that year made it necessary to give up the idea of a building for a time. It was not renewed until 1880. At that time, a group of Campbellites disbanded due to few members and lack of funds. They had an abandoned community building that was only partially finished, and they offered it for sale. The trustees of the church, I.J. Smith, W.M. Benedict and John Fry made the purchase of the building as it stood.