Two of Chariton's religious communities have been observing (and are continuing to celebrate) 150th anniversaries during 2019 --- Sacred Heart (which began as St. Mary's) and First Lutheran (originally Swedish Lutheran).
Of the two, Sacred Heart (events planned October 2019 through June 2020) is slightly older. If you'd like to follow along, you'll find the Chariton Sacred Heart History Facebook page here.
Nov. 3 was a key date for Lutherans, as the following article, published in both The Leader and The Herald-Patriot during the week of Oct. 31, 1909, explains:
The Lutherans Celebrate
The 40th anniversary festivities at the Swedish Lutheran church which began on Tuesday evening will close this (Thursday) evening with a jubilee program. The program is a splendid one consisting of solos, ladies' quartettes, choruses and several selections by the orchestra. There is no church in Chariton, which for its size, can show forth as much musical talent as the Swedish Lutheran. It will also be in evidence this evening. No one should fail to encourage this home talent concert by their presence. The admission is only 25 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. Children under 12 years accompanied by guardian or parents admitted free. Between the first and second parts of the program, the pastors of the various city churches will be given an opportunity to tender the greetings of their congregations.
The various services and programs have been attended by large audience. Nearly a dozen invited pastors from Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Missouri having been present.
The congregation has had an interesting career. It was organized on the 3rd of November 1869 with just a handful of members. Its highest membership was attained in 1877, when it had 332 members. Since 1873, it has never been below the 200 mark. Its membership on Jan. 1st of this year was 242.
Statistics show that during its 40 years history the congregation has raised over $50,000 for benevolence and church purposes. Its first church was built in 1875. In 1903, the present modern well equipped church edifice was erected. The property owned by the church today, including the parsonage, is valued at $12,000. There is no encumbrance on the property nor a dollar of indebtedness on all the improvements that lately have been made.
The congregation is in a flourishing condition, active, spiritually wide awake and full of missionary spirit, supporting at present (missionaries) and native workers in India. It has a Ladies Aid society, a young peoples' society, a Luther League, a choir, orchestra and band, all working together in harmony and unison for the common cause of making this community better and glorifying thereby Christ and his church.
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