Evangelist David Lawrence, 1895-1963

History of Appanoose County, Iowa

[Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company, 1986]

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  Evangelist David Lawrence was born July 22, 1895, in Treherbet, South Wales, the son of David John and Gwendolyn Griffiths Lawrence. He was one of our children -- two sisters, Margaret Lawrence and Elizabeth Ann Rees, and a brother, Dr. Tom Lawrence.

  He was married to Frances Edna Norris on February 17, 1929, at Numa, Ia.

  During World War I, he served in the Royal Medical Corps with the British Army. For ten years following the war, he served with a group of Christian Evangelists known as The Pilgrim Preachers, who toured the British Isles.

  Mr. Lawrence came to the United States in 1927, then returned to Wales in 1928, then came back to the states in 1929, the year he was married to Miss Norris.

  Mr. Lawrence said two of the most memorable moments in his life was when he was converted to God in 1914, in Wales, and when he became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1933 in Appanoose County, Iowa. He was always proud and happy to be a citizen of the United States.

  During World War II, he worked in Christian canteens for service men in various cities of the United States. From 1947 through 1950, he led a group of young Christian men known as "Gospel Messengers on Tour." He had been a minister for 49 years, and during that time served the Gospel Chapel in Centerville, Iowa, until his death.

  He had been in charge of a radio program, "Gospel Tidings" over radio station KCOG since its inception in 1949.

  David Lawrence died August 3, 1963, and was buried in Jerome, Iowa, cemetery.

Jerome Memories - Part IV - Churches

  The first settlers were much interested in the religious welfare of their families, a Methodist church was organized in 1855 and services were held in homes until the construction of a school house.  Charter members were Calvin Jackson and wife, Jim Kinney and wife, Grandma Thomas, George Jackson and wife, Delila Jackson, mother of Calvin Jackson, eight in all.  The circuit rider's name was Alexander and the circuit covered the greater part of Appanoose County.

  Later circuit-rider preachers were Brothers Clark, Main, Hard, Mann, Orr, Harnerd, Corkhill, Stephenson, Hurt, Sinclair, Tennent and Hogle.  The Jacob Norris home was a popular stop enroute to Jerome.

  The first church was finished in October of 1871.  Early ministers included J. M. Louthridge and C. W. Powelson.  This church stood in the west part of town on the same site as the present church.  Lumber was hewed and hauled from Missouri and shingles and flooring were brought from Albia. Mrs. Calvin Jackson and Mrs. James Hagan boarded the laborers without pay and Mrs. Jackson wove carpets for the isles.  The records of 1875 show that the ministers salary was $600 and $75 was given to missions.  The first organ was bought in 1886 and Mamie Kinney was appointed organist, serving until her death in 1892.

  The present Methodist church was dedicated in 1911 during the time Rev. J. H. Krenmyre was pastor.  In 1939 a Sunday school room and a kitchen were added and dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Maria Pendergast and Miss Anna Gorman, whose gifts by will added to the contributions of the community and made the additions possible.  In 1953 the kitchen addition was made a part of the Sunday school room and a modern new kitchen was built, all made possible by the will of Anna Gorman and the labor of the membership of the church.

  In 1910 the Gospel Hall was built as another place of worship, leaders in the church being Andrew Gillispie and John and W. W. White.  The Croation Society building, commonly called the Catholic church, was built in the eastern part of Jerome in 1916, and the Catholic service began in 1919.
[From Memories of Jerome, Iowa, 1989 published for the 1989 Jerome Reunion.]