Our History

Very early in the history of the Dunkard Brethren Church, the Coon River congregation was established at Panora, Iowa. Some of the members of that congregation lived in or near Dallas Center. Eventually, they asked to form a congregation in their town and that request was granted. The Coon River Church gave eleven membership certificates that made up the charter membership at Dallas Center.

The church was organized February 12, 1928 and by November of that year the congregation had purchased a meetinghouse from the Christian Church located on Percival Street in Dallas Center for their weekly services.

When the Coon River congregation closed, their remaining members transferred their membership to Dallas Center. Over a number of years Dunkard families moved in from other areas and the congregation had healthy growth. They outgrew the meetinghouse in town and purchased two acres of land outside the city limits, where they built a sanctuary to seat 240 people. The new building was dedicated August 20, 1983. This occasion was followed by the congregation’s first Love Feast in the new facility.