A Brief History of Riverside Presbyterian Church: How Did We Get Here?
The life of Riverside Presbyterian is rooted in the stories of three different congregations formed in and around Linn Grove, Iowa. In 1875, Zion Church built a small building 6 miles north of town and hired a resident pastor. In 1889 another congregation, Union Church, constructed a building in Linn Grove-services were conducted there by the congregation. In 1895, the congregation of Peniel Church built a building 2 miles north of Linn Grove. In 1907, these three congregations jointly hired a minister, the Rev. Mr. Harris. A home was rented for him in Linn Grove and he was paid an annual salary of $600. It is remembered that Rev. Harris would set out on horseback early each Sunday morning to hold a morning service at the Zion church. From there he would ride to Peniel Church for an afternoon service after which he would hold an evening service in Linn Grove at the Union Church. In 1923, the Peniel Church building was dismantled and moved across the Little Sioux River into Linn Grove.
