It all began in the barren lands of Iroquois County, which became the home of German immigrants in the mid-1800s. Those were hard times, pioneer days,, when the old-time circuit-rider preachers traveled from place to place on horseback, serving as best they could the numerous Christian groups scattered along the way. Under such conditions, minimally organized church could be carried on, making a start that was destined to do greater things.
For some time, German services were occasionally held in the old Presbyterian church on Sunday afternoons, but the desire to have a church home and a resident pastor grew insistent and eventually led to the organization of a 40-member congregation under the pastorate of C. F. Hartman, the first preacher. In the fall of 1874, what became known as the German Lutheran Church erected a building, which was dedicated on May 16th, 1875. This congregation had begun what we are now able to celebrate: out 150th year of service.
Pre-1990
1875 – 1880 — Part- and full-time pastors of the Iowa and Missouri Lutheran Synods served the church
1880 – 1884 — The congregation is affiliated with the Evangelical Synod of North America, the belfry grew, a church bell was purchase, a schoolhouse was built, and the Frauenverein was established
1888 – The first parsonage was built
World War 1 & 1920s
1914 – 1919 — The Good Fellowship Society was organized and the first piano was purchased for the church
1922 — The Brootherhood was formed and the last class in German was held
1923 — English services were added
1924 — The Golden Jubilee was held to celebrate the growth and advancements of the church
1925 — The first church stand was held at Old Boys
1926 — A new sanctuary was built and the Gilman Star published an article about this immense success; “ZION EVANGELICAL” are still engraved near the front door today
1930s – 1950s
1930s — The Brotherhood joined with other church men’s groups to hold summer games, tournaments, and winter gatherings
1934 — The 60th Anniversary celebration was held and hosted over 250 people
1936 — “God’s Acre” was established and locals were encouraged to set aside an acre of corn to harvest and sell, where the proceeds would act as a tithe to the church to help meet the budget
1939 — Zion became the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church
1941 — Because of World War 2 happening, the “America’s Prayer a Minute” was held in observance every day at 6pm.
1943 — All debts were retired and final notes burned
1945 — The Frauenverein disbanded
1950s — The Easter Egg hunt began
1954 — The first Easter sunrise service and breakfast was held
1957 — Zion became the Zion United Church of Christ of Gilman, Illinois
1960s – 1980s
1962 — The Zion United Church of Christ of Gilman, Illinois was incorporated
1974 — The 100th Anniversary was observed
1986 — A Young People’s Club began
1988 — The Youth Group began taping services for those unable to make it in person, and collected newspapers to purchase a VCR, a nativity scene, and acolyte robes
1990s – Today
1998 — The Afternoon Guild and Evening Circle united into one organization, now known as the Women’s Circle
2023 — Messy Church began to help children learn lessons
2025 — 150th Anniversary celebrations