Followers of the Presbyterian faith first held

services in Manning September 23, 1881. Rev. T. S. Bailey of Carroll, a synodical missionary, conducted this service in the unfinished room of the Farmers and Traders bank. The congregation consisted of six members.

Services were held whenever there was an opportunity until December of 1881, when Rev. E. A. Elfelt was hired on a half time basis. The place of service was changed from the school to the Manning hall. All denominations represented in the town joined in Sunday school services held on Sunday afternoons.

A petition to organize was signed by G. M. Barber, Robert Macklin, D. W. and Annie Sutherland and Harvey Bell May 27, 1882, and the church was incorporated May 2a, 1882; the Rev. Baird conducted the services with 16 members joining.

The congregation increased rapidly and a building committee was appointed January 13, 1883. The new church building, Manning's first church, was dedicated August, 1883, and the key passed into the hands of the trustees. Cost of the building was $2200, of which $1500 was raised by the members. The board of church erection granted $700.

The first manse was built in 1901 at a cost of $795, including the carpenter work. It was completed toward the end of the year and was occupied by Rev. H. S. Condit.

The church doors were thrown open to all other congregations represented in the town. The invitation was accepted by the Methodists and the Christian Church members. In 1898 it was used by the United Brethren who held services in the afternoon.

Membership gradually increased from 54 in 1907 to 251 in 1931; in April of 1917 the members were informed the church was debt free. In this same year a basement was added.

In 1939 a remodeling committee composed of Mrs. Mary Wilhite, Mrs. Flora Sutherland, and C. M. Johnson acquired plans for remodeling and enlarging the church building. Plans were drawn by architect George Spooner of Des Moines as a memorial to his aunt, Mrs. Edward Perry, an early member of the church. Henry Grelck and Heinz Brandt made the chancel and altar furniture and donated their work.

Memorial services were held April 2, 1946, for Donald Koch and John Hoffmann.

The following years brought physical changes to our church. It was decided a new manse and additional church school rooms were needed. Plans were accepted for the new facilities in May, 1959. The building committee, Merlin Struve, Wait Miller, Robert Campbell, Grover Bartels, and Lyle O. Arp, set to work to complete this project. An open house was held April 24, 1960, and at the same time a mortgage burning ceremony was included for the original church building grant dated 1883. New pews were purchased November, 1962.

The church has undergone many physical changes in the past 25 years, but a major inner change in the years 1979-80 was the formation of the United Church School. The Presbyterian and Methodist churches have combined and collaborated their children, talents, and resources to educate and celebrate together.