Edmunds County Tribune -

The Ipswich UCC Church has started a stained glass window restoration fund-raiser.

The stained glass windows in the church were installed during the ministry of the Reverend Godfrey Matthews in 1917. The following year Rev. Matthews was called as a Y.M.C.A. Secretary to Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

In 1950 it was discovered that the windows needed re-leading and Merrill and Edna Bebermeyer went to Minneapolis and located the firm from which the windows were ordered and they sent two men out to do the work.

The beautiful window in the east was given by Mr. and Mrs. George Meadows in memory of their son Earl, who graduated from high school in 1911. As a special gift his folks gave him a trip to Wisconsin and Illinois to visit cousins. While swimming across a lake in Illinois with a YMCA group Earl drown. Mr. and Mrs. Meadows were the parents of Mrs. Beth Crissman and the grandparents of Earle Crissman. They were among the prominent pioneers of Ipswich.

“The Christian Endeavor” donated the northeast window. This was the name of the church youth group at that time. Each member was to use $1 — probably gotten from their parents — and see how much it could be increased in a certain length of time. The idea was probably borrowed from the Bible parable of the 10 talents.

Emily Roberts recalled being praised for bringing in the first $5. Elizabeth Jensen took orders for baked goods which she baked herself. She brought in $16. (Elizabeth Jensen was Bonnie Hodson’s mother and Clyde and Glen Hodson’s grandmother. Emily and Elizabeth were sisters.)

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Barron gave the northwest window in memory of Mrs. Barron’s mother, Mrs. J.C. Simmons. Ed Barron was also from a pioneer family. His mother was the church organist for many years.

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Hill donated the round window above the altar, the Hoffman Head of Christ. Dr. Hill was the country doctor in Ipswich from 1895 until his death in 1938. His funeral was held in the high school gym. It was felt that no local church would hold the crowd who would want to show their love and respect for the dedicated doctor. Mrs. Hill was a diligent worker in both the Ladies Aid and the church.

The southwest window was given as a memorial for the Reverend Harry Evans who died during the flu epidemic. Until he was taken ill himself, he visited the sick and did what he could to help. The window was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Beebe, members of the Baptist Church.

The Beebe family gave the Beebe Memorial Library to the City of Ipswich in memory of their father Marcus P. Beebe. They were also instrumental in the building of the present Baptist Church.

In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Meadows from the Rev. Godfrey Matthews, he stated that if they didn’t care to buy a window they might like to contribute toward the purchase of one. The conclusion is that the window depicting Christ’s Ascension in the southeast and the window in the south of the entrance hall were purchased through contributions.

Donations for the Stained Glass Window Restoration Fundraiser can be mailed to the church, PO Box 588, Ipswich, SD 57451 or contact Deanne Hoyle, 605-380-2650, for more information.