The first English language church services of Griggs County were held in the farm-home of R.C. Cooper in 1880 and conducted by Frank M. Rockwell, a cousin of R.C. Cooper. They called themselves the "Union Church." In the summer of 1881 the services were conducted by Rev. Rockwell in a large tent loaned by Mr. Cooper and set up on the NW 1/4 of Section 31, T. 146, R. 58 in the most central location for the first families: R.C. Cooper, M.F. Washburn, J.N. Brown, S.B. Langford.
Mr. Rockwell often rode to the meetings upon an ox fitted with a special saddle. William Gimblett, another early preacher also rode this ox. By 1882, about sixty settlers had come from the neighborhood of St. Clair, Michigan, besides others from other states. Services of the winter of 1882 and 83 were held in the dining room of the Merriell House, also known as Dakota House, the first hotel and rooming house, now owned by Alph Overby. Mr. Rockwell also conducted revival services in the summer of 1883 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.N. Brown, then known as the Meadow View Farm. Following the completion of the schoolhouse, the meetings were held there. Sunday school was organized June 2, 1883.
June 7, 1884, Mr. Rockwell sent a request to the Congregational ministers of Dakota to organize a church June 17, 1884. This call was signed by:
George W. Barnard
Mrs. George W. Barnard
Belle Rice
Mrs. Emma Cooper
Mrs. Isabella Brown
Mrs. M. Zimmerman
Jack H. Brown
Cora E. Hagarty
Mrs. E.B. Newell
Minnie C. Barnard
Mrs. T.F. Kerr
Theodore F. Kerr
George Calder
A.N. Adams
John N. Glass
Alex J. Glass
Anna E. Glass
Livia P. Barnard
Maria Rankin
Miss Therza Gimblett
Mrs. Martha Newberry
Mr. Edwin Bradley
S.B. Langford
Mrs. S.B. Langford
Laura Langford
Bertie Langford
Olive Langford
Frank M. Rockwell
Mrs. F.M. Rockwell
William Gimblett
Richard A. Horholtz
James Walker
Theodore Nierenberg
William A. Wetherbee
Mrs. S.J. Haskell
Mrs. R.C. Brophy
R.C. Brophy
B.B. Brown
Mrs. B.B. Brown
Mrs. M.A. Baker
Alice M. Jimeson
William C. Jimeson
The following ministers and laymen responded to the call:
Rev. H.C. Simmons
Rev. J.W. Donaldson
Br. David McCullock
Rev. David Wirt
Rev. Joseph Waite
Rev. William Ering
Bro. L.W. Starbird.
At the first business meeting the following officers were elected: Deacons S.B. Langford and A.N. Adams
Clerk, Mrs. Lucy H. Brown
Treasurer, George W. Barnard
Trustees Jack N. Brown, George Barnard, R.C. Cooper.
The Articles of Incorporation of the First Congregational Church were filed to begin May 1, 1885, to run for fifty years. February 23, 1886, the church bought lots 1 and 2 of Block 81 and the church built shortly afterward. The pastor's house was built in 1906. Besides F.M. Rockwell, early pastors included:
Thomas Sims
Horace Payne James
George Frost
Edwin Shaw
Rev. Ruring
Charles Evans
Edward Keedy.
In 1939 the Congregational Church building was sold to the St. George Catholic congregation.
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial Page 153