While traveling a back road across northern Iowa, I came across a road marker indicating a historic site was up ahead. I was ready to see something interesting after driving through several miles of corn fields. Sitting on the road side, in a grove of old pine trees miles from anywhere, I came upon The Little Brown Church. The church setting was a small shady oasis in the endless corn desert of north central Iowa.

The Little Brown Church near Nashua, IA

I was passing by on a Sunday and I noticed only one car in the parking lot. I figured it would be a quick stop to read a historic plaque and take a picture. But it didn’t turn out that way. As I approached the church, I quickly realized this was an operating church with regular Sunday services. What I thought was a historic plaque was a church sign listing the pastor and service hours.

Ok. The church was a good photo subject so I took a couple of shots and started to return to my RV. As I approached my RV, a woman emerged from the car in the lot and told me that I was welcome to go into the church. “That’s ok. I’m just stopping for a photo”, I said. “Oh, come on. Let’s go in and I’ll give you a tour” she said as she headed over to the church. It was a friendly gesture that I couldn’t decline.

I introduced my self and learned my tour guide’s name was Donna, a member of the church. Sunday worship services were held that morning and Donna had just finished cleaning up from their luncheon. The church is always kept unlocked during the day time and visitors are welcome to visit.

Some Church History

The Little Brown Church is an active Congregational Church. It was built in 1860 and stood in the little town of Bradford. The church was built during the Civil War when there were few men and little money. It took over four years to build. The builders painted the church brown because that was the least expensive paint they could afford back then.

The church has some interesting history that makes it special. In 1852, before the church was built, a traveling music teacher named William Pitts was on his way to Wisconsin and made a brief stage-coach stop in Bradford to change horses. He strolled around town and came upon the empty grove where the church currently sits. Mr. Pitts was moved by the setting and thought the grove would be a perfect place for a church. While there he wrote a song about a little brown church in the vale and titled the song “Church in the WildWood”.

Ten years later, Mr. Pitts moved back to Iowa and took a job teaching at the Bradford Academy. He was surprised to find that a little brown church had indeed been built in the grove just has he had imaged 10 years prior. Mr Pitts remembered his song and had his students sing it at the church dedication. The song has since become a popular gospel song recorded by several artists Here’s the Carter Family singing Church in the WildWood..

During the late 1880’s, the little town of Bradford suffered a severe decline and the church was forced to close. But, in 1914, people from nearby Nashua, IA decided to reopen the church. The church began to experience a small revival as Mr. Pitts song gained popularity and drew visitors to the church. The church has been open ever since.

The Church Today

Today, there are about 60 regular members who attend services at the church. Donna spent about 30 minutes with me sharing the church history and letting me roam around and take pictures. My visit was one of those moments of serendipity that happen when you stop and accept an invitation to experience something unexpected.

Much of the inside is all original from the 1860’s. The floor is the original pine with square-cut nails. The pews are all original. They are made of walnut and pine. The lighting looks like old oil lamps that have been retrofitted with electricity. The walls are adorned with old photos of pastors and past church events.

Inside The Little Brown Church

Notice the numbers on the pews. In the early days of the church, families were assigned pews.

The Little Brown Church is a special place. Mr. Pitts felt it back in 1852. When the town of Bradford disappeared in 1888, the church should have died with it, but it didn’t. It was re-born from a song. Curiosity made me stop, but then I was drawn in by a stranger who gave me a tour. Once inside, I could feel it was a special place. And much like I did, each year thousands of people are drawn and stop to visit The Little Brown Church in the vale.Today, the church is a popular site for weddings. To date, there’s been over 74,000 wedding ceremonies performed at The Little Brown Church.