By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
November 4, 2004

CARROLL - A member of the Diocese of Sioux City recounts the history of churches in Carroll County.

Marilyn Schirck Setzler wrote "Cathedrals Among the Cornfields," a historical book about 13 churches built in Carroll County before 1925 except for one that was built in 1939.

She grew up in Carroll and attended St. Lawrence School. She graduated from Kuemper High School in 1961. She lived in Minneapolis, Minn. for 35 years. Setzler is currently living in Carroll and working at Carroll County Historical Museum.

"It was an outcome of the first book I wrote called, 'This Place Called Carroll County Iowa,' that came out in 2002," said Setzler. "When I wrote that book, as I was doing my research and collecting the information, I saw all these beautiful old churches that we have in the county. As I finished that book, I thought they need more than a paragraph in a book."

She took about a year off after the first book and thought about what she wanted to put in the book about the churches. Setzler put a sample together and sent it to the same company, Donning Company Publishers, that published her other book explaining what she wanted to do and why.

"They were agreeable and that is how 'Cathedrals Among the Cornfields' came to be," said Setzler.

The churches include St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Zion Lutheran Church and First Presbyterian Church all in Arcadia; St. Bernard Clairvaux Catholic Church and Wheatland Presbyterian Church in Breda; Trinity Episcopal Church in Carroll; St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dedham; First Presbyterian Church of Manning; St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Maple River; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Mount Carmel; Holy Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Roselle; Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton; and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Willey.

"One of the most unique as far as detail and the inside is the Roselle church," said Setzler. "It is the least-altered of all the churches. It is very unique."

Also included in the book are sections about the Stations of the Cross, Sanctuary of Lights, Infant of Prague and cemeteries.

"I think my favorite part was learning what all the things meant," said Setzler. "I didn't know a lot of these things when I started. Really being able to study them was phenomenal."

The foreword of the book is written by David Nieland of Breda, who also helped Setzler with the research for the book. He is a retired history teacher from Carroll High School and a member of St. Bernard Church in Breda.

"He had a huge interest in Carroll County," said Setzler. "He used to take his students on a tour of the county to point out all the historic sites. He went around with me to all the churches and had his input."

Another contributor to the research of the book was Ruth Lux of Holy Family Church in Lidderdale. According to Setzler, Lux helped her identify saints, statues and background.

"It helped to have a couple sounding boards," said Setzler.

The late Msgr. James K. Lafferty translated all of the Latin for her. Many of the windows have Latin phrases, noted Setzler.

Marie Baumhover was the photographer for the book. She is a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

Setzler noted that writing the book strengthened her faith. She said that "just seeing the profound history and to learn what these people went through when they built these churches you appreciate so much more what is here and how strong it still is."

The book is $34.95 with $6 handling and postage. "Cathedrals Among the Cornfields" is available at the Carroll County Historical Museum and at Good News Bookstore in Carroll or from Setzler at 724 East 22nd St., Carroll, IA 51401.