History:

The early immigrants who were the ancestors of many members of Bethlehem Lutheran came from Etne, Fjeldberg and Skaanevik parishes in Norway to Lisbon, Illinois about 1850. When they learned there was good prairie land in central Iowa selling at 1.25 an acre, they prepared to travel there in covered wagons. They settled southeast of Huxley in June of 1855. This group organized the Palestine Church, one of Iowa's pioneer congregations and located it on its present site five miles east of Slater.

Gradually more settlers came and some of them moved westward to what are now the Sheldahl and Slater communities. To go regularly to the Palestine Church to worship over mud trails with horse and buggy proved difficult. To serve these settlers who had moved farther west, it was decided to start another congregation to be called Bethlehem. It was organized January 12, 1878. Reverend J.H. Myre was the first pastor to minister to the new congregation. He served both the Palestine and Bethlehem congregations.

The Lincoln congregation then in the Polk City vicinity and the Bethlehem congregation agreed to build a jointly owned church in Sheldahl. Ten years later in 1888, the church was moved to Slater and shared by the two groups until 1909.

The second pastor to serve this church was Reverend H.C. Holm who came here in 1881 and stayed until 1893. When Rev. Holm resigned, Rev. N.B. Thvedt who served the next three years succeeded him. In 1897 Rev. A.L. Huus was called and he remained until 1902. After Rev. Huus left, Rev H.J. Holman became Pastor of Bethlehem and the newly organized Bethany congregation. Pastor Holman served these congregations from 1903 to 1911.

During November of 1909, the question of building a new church was brought up and a committee was elected to look for a suitable place. The property of the St. Luke congregation was purchased for $ 400 and plans were made to erect a church on the same location. St. Luke's Church was moved to the north part of the lot and used for services during the construction of the new building, after which it was sold and torn down. The pulpit and benches were saved to use in the basement of the new church. When the basement was remodeled in 1947, the benches were given to Riverside Bible Camp. The bell from St. Luke's Church was used as the fire bell in the local city hall.

In 1910 the plans were completed. It was decided to build a modern brick building with large art windows, at a cost of about $12,000. We came in slightly over budget, with a final cost of $14,124.69.

In the spring the work of excavation for a basement under the whole church began. Work continued that summer and on August 7th a large crowd gathered for the laying of the cornerstone. Rev. H.C. Holm gave the main address and also put in place the berry granite stone that was to hold the copper box of records.