History of Holy Cross Episcopal Church

In 1858, the Reverend Hugh Thompson of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portage, WI conducted the first non-denominational service in the new town of Kilbourn. In that same year, Father Thompson began serving the small group of Episcopalians in the schoolhouse at 810 Elm Street.

The congregation grew slowly with itinerant priests serving the small congregation. Kilbourn had outgrown its first school and built a new one. Mrs. Mary Greenly bought the old school in 1871 and sold it to the Episcopal congregation for a fraction of its value. St. Paul’s was admitted to the diocese and consecrated in 1876. Early families included the John Jackson Browns, Charles Noyes, John Tanner, R. Herren and Thomas Coon.

The first resident priest was Rev. John Pedelupe, (1875-1877). The church records 27 communicants with Adam C. Dixon as Warden and John Brown as Treasurer. Father Pedelupe was in poor health and was able to serve only occasionally. The church lost several families and was kept alive by the efforts of only a few people.

In 1896, Mr. Samuel Kerfoot, whose summer home was Dawn Manor, was God’s instrument in the revival of St. Paul’s. He contributed and collected money for the restoration of the building. With the approval of Bishop Nicholson, remodeling and restoration were completed. Mr. Kerfoot gave two stained glass windows in memory of Julie Newbold Vibbert and Rev. James DeKoven for whom DeKoven Foundation is named. The value of the building was now about $1,500.00.

The Rev. Arthur Gorter took charge in 1897 with 13 confirmed persons, 7 communicants, with an average age of 55 ½ -- no children, no young people, or organist, no choir. Three years later the parish reported 16 active communicants, 6 inactives “still asleep” and 30 children in the Sunday school.

A congregation was established in Lake Delton on June 2, 1899. On July 1, 1903, a lot was purchased in that town for $15.00.  Ground was broken for the church by R.T. McCutchen, at the time a lay reader and future rector of both churches, and Milo B. Goodall, a stonemason, who later became a priest of the church.

Families whose names were in the church register at the time were – Dixon, Idhe, Bennett, Huntington, Crandall, Goman, Sarrington, Davis, Keyes, Wilbur and Mash.

On July 22, 1904, Holy Cross Church in Delton, being free from debt, was consecrated during services presided over by bishop Nicholson. In 1906, the rectory was built in Kilbourn next to the church and McCutchen and his bride were its first residents. On the fourth Sunday in Advent, December 1907, Father McCutchen was priested at St. Paul’s. His Sunday schedule was a busy one. He left Kilbourn on the 9:00 a.m., took the train for services at Mauston, returned at 3:00 p.m., drove to Delton for services at 4:00 and returned to Kilbourn for evening services.

In the years 1910-1920, Lois and Phyllis Crandall (Musson and Connor) organized a high school choir under the direction of Mrs. Wintermute. Besides the Crandall girls, this choir included Miriam and Ruth Bennett (Dyer), Myrtle Armstrong (Tennyson), Jessie French, Sybil Fogle, Madge Van Dyke (Carpenter), Blanche Skirven (Foster). Services probably Holy Communion and Evening Prayer were conducted on alternate Sundays.

A women’s guild was established in 1920. Many of the original members are familiar yet – Mrs. Ruth Dyer, Mrs. John Dixon, Mary Idhe Stone, Lulu Idhe Herrison, Harriet Richards, Maude Shute, Edyth Whitney, Blanche Skirven Foster, Mrs. Commodore Jahn.

In 1921, Father William H. Wolfe came to serve Mauston, Tomah, Kilbourn and Delton. The diocese of Eau Claire was established in 1929 and Tomah and Mauston were in that jurisdiction. Consequently, the rector of St. John’s, Portage, also served St. Paul’s and Holy Cross. The vicar was the Rev. Daniel Corrigan, who later became Suffragan Bishop of Colorado.

Lake Delton also had an active ladies guild at this time, 1930, with some of the members being Laura Sarrington, Beth Lindsay, and Norma Welch. Tess Idhe Sarrington, Gen Searle Sarrington, Erma Simons Murray (Adams), Laura Simons, Cora Dehler, Louise Drinker, alt King, Amber Kaminski and Millie Turner. Honorary members were Mrs. Wilma and Kate Scott.

Father Donald C. Means served all three churches from Portage, until 1935, when the priest at Trinity church, Baraboo, added Holy Cross to his charge. Father George Schiffmayer served Trinity Church and Holy Cross until 1956.

In the meantime, St. Paul’s had revived their Sunday school again and in 1933 the first Sunday school pageant of the Nativity of our Lord was presented. This pantomime with an angel speaking the narrative has continued to the present. In 1930, Holy Cross added a parish hall to their structure. In 1956, Trinity, Baraboo, requested their priest serve Trinity only. In 1958, Andrew Laabs was called as Holy Cross’ vicar and lived in Lake Delton. The mission bought a house for Kenneth Martin when he came in 1960, and in 1964 the debt was paid and the mortgage burned at Holy Cross’s 60^th anniversary celebration.

In the meantime, St. Paul's Church was completely remodeled during Father Charles Abele’s charge in 1955 and ’56. The Christus Rex Cross, the aumbry and many of the present frontals still used in the present Holy Cross church were purchased at this time. The rectory, 812 Elm St., had been rented as income property from 1915 until 1956 but income from that property was no longer required and a parish hall was needed so this building was converted for that purpose.

When Donald Radtke came to St. Paul’s, he lived in the Dells in the former rectory-parish hall and talk of building a new parish hall was revived.

In 1966, Bishop Hallock announced that St. John’s Portage, was to be a separate unit and St. Paul’s and Holy Cross were to combine into one congregation. The two congregations met for six months at one church and six months at the other with Father Radtke officiating. Both churches were too small for the combined congregations so we decided to build a new church on a site purchased on Clara Avenue, Lake Delton between the two towns. An architect was hired and he drew sketches for the proposed building. Jack Coolidge, Ken Stevens, Stewart Thompson, Jean Reese, Erma Murray and Doug Scott were active on this committee.

When the Rev. David With came in 1970, events were moving us toward a unique ecumenical adventure. Pastor Al Briggs was appointed to combine the Dells and Delton Methodist churches and each of their churches were too small also. Everyone was reluctant to leave their old, beloved buildings but the idea grew that we might build a common structures.

Clergymen had worked in ecumenical settings, the churches had many similar traditions and the savings in building costs would be tremendous. After much discussion and soul searching by all members of the four congregations, the plan was approved and the site chosen on County A and the new street, Unity Drive.

By November 1970, Kenton Peters of Madison was engaged as the architect. The cost of the church would be split equally and the structure owned by the Dells-Delton Building Corporation. The initial directors were Pastor Al Briggs, and Father David With. Methodist Board members were Lorraine Bohlinger, Secretary-Treasurer, R. Duane Marshall, Vice-President, and Reece Dickerson. Holy Cross members were Erma Murray, Stewart Thompson and John Coolidge, President.

This structure would govern the upkeep and uses of the buildings. Many unique factors including the diversity in size of the two congregations and their traditions of worship were included in the plans. A few furnishings were brought from the old churches. The pews from the Methodist Church in the Dells were rebuilt to conform to the design of the new nave, stained glass windows from Holy Cross were incorporated into the doors of the sanctuary and stained glass windows from the Delton Methodist Church were used around the doors to the office and nursery.

Father Denis Day and Pastor Al Briggs, with Bishop Hallock and United Methodist Bishop Jesse DeWitt, conducted the dedication ceremonies on September 13, 1972. Each congregation paid $90,000. And, Holy Cross’s share was paid in full through a pre-existing building fund and the sale of all properties.

The last event in old St. Paul’s was the wedding of Holly Severson and Les Pennington in 1970. The marriage of Donna Murray and Greg Georgeson was celebrated at the old Holy Cross, Lake Delton in 1971. The first occasion in the new church was the wedding of Linda Hattle and Doug Scott in 1972.

The Rt. Reverend Charles T. Gaskell served as Bishop of the Diocese of Milwaukee from 1974 to 1985 and was very supportive of this congregation and the ecumenical relationship here.

By 1983, our 125^th year, the congregation had tripled I size with corresponding growth in many areas such as summer campground ministry, vacation Bible School, youth and adult education groups.

 Father Bryce Hunt was called in 1975 as the first resident vicar of the new Holy Cross Church and he bought his own home in the Dells. In 1984, the congregation was happy to witness the ordination of Leonard Griffin to the deaconate.

When Father Hunt left I 1985, Father Robert Coval of St. John’s, Portage, assisted pastorally on weekdays at Holy Cross. The Rt. Reverend Roger J. White became Bishop of Milwaukee in the spring of 1985. In 1986 our congregation was again yoked with St. John’s, with Fr. Coval serving as Vicar of both congregations.

In 1988 a new Allen Organ was purchased by the United Methodist/Episcopal Corporation Board in time for the Thomas Reeder, Candy Dunn wedding. Monies for this came largely from donations of members of our congregation. A rectory was purchased at 918 Weber Avenue, Wisconsin Dells, in 1989.

In 1991 the parish reported listed 128 members. In this year of our twentieth anniversary, the long-awaited bell tower is nearing completion with four bells signifying the four congregations who came together in their beautiful home on Unity Drive.

 Since 1991 the Holy Spirit has blessed us continuously. We are in the process of updating our history to include these years. Keep watching us grow in Christ!