Our History.

For over 100 years, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached in Iola, Illinois. In the winter of 1911-12, Pentecostal services were held in Clay County, Illinois at Arcadia School and then at Center Grove School. Rev. Harry Blunt and his sister, Gertie held three weeks of special services and 35-40 people were baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. In the summer of 1913, the school board would not allow them to meet there any longer, so services were moved to Keen’s Chapel Church about 4 miles northwest of Iola. That was too far for the people living in Center Grove to consistently travel for church. James Shahan opened his home for services near Iola.

In the summer of 1914, meetings were held in a grove of Alanzo Byers’ property. In 1915, Alanzo Byers donated land and lumber for the church to build a tabernacle on Byers Grove and the congregation held services in Byers Grove with Hira Byers as their pastor. When Rev. Hira Byers moved to Iola in 1927, the church began holding services in a rented garage building. In 1931, the church bought an office building. As the church grew, they moved the building to a bigger lot and then added onto the building.

Hira Byers was the pastor of the Iola Pentecostal Church for over forty years until he retired September, 1958. Some of the Evangelists that preached meetings in Iola during that time were Rev. Norman Pasley, Rev. Ben Blunt, Rev. Wells, Rev. Carlson, Rev. Hungerford, Rev. Wallace Reed, Rev. Johnnie Reed, The Kinzie Party, Sisters Florence and Grace, Sis. Martha Lee, Rev. N.H. Whittington, Sisters Marjorie and Evelyn, Sis. Ruby Sampson, Sis. Ruby Layle, Sis. Freda Starwalt, Sis. Nila, Sis. Charlotte, Rev. Edward Kelly, Rev. Sonny Cole, Rev. Ace Summers, Sis. Rita, Sis. Wagnor, Rev. Maxwell, and Sisters Janet and Sakie.

Six other men pastored in Iola between 1958 and 1979: Rev. Leon Drew, Rev. Robert Bishop, Rev. Harold Croster, Rev. Grady Brown, Rev. George Taylor and Rev. Robert Bailey.

The church elected Rev. Michael Durre as pastor in December, 1979. He and his wife Phyllis faithfully served the congregation for 43 years until his retirement in December, 2022. Under Rev. Durre’s leadership, the church outgrew the old church building. They purchased property in 1981, and built a new church building at its present location in 1995-1998. The men and women of the church led by Rev. Durre did most of the work on the new facility. The first service was held in the new Sanctuary of Calvary Apostolic Tabernacle in January 1998 even as work continued on the Fellowship Hall and Classroom Wings of the building. The mortgage on the new facility was paid in full in 2008.

On January 1, 2023, Rev. Craig Fritchley became the pastor of Calvary Apostolic Tabernacle along with his wife, Lisa. The gospel continues to be declared, people are being born again of water and Spirit, and God is adding to His church! We are truly thankful for the many faithful men and ladies who have labored in Iola and for all the saints who have served in many areas. We know that the best days of the Church are still ahead!