1893
St. Joseph Catholic Church - Duncombe

Parish History

   The history of St. Joseph Parish in Duncombe dates back prior to 1880. Four of the original members of the parish - Katie Bailey Wagner, John and Margaret Bailey Carroll and John J. Mahoney - often told how they would drive a team and wagon or bobsled filled with straw and a supply of hot bricks all the way to Fort Dodge to attend Mass at Corpus Christi Church. Sometimes one of them walked the 10 miles because no transportation was available.
   Sometime prior to 1880. Father Peter O'Dowd from Ackley came to Duncombe to celebrate Mass in the John Geary home. He was followed by Father James Brennan, who came to Webster City as pastor in August 1881. and Father JJ. Garland who came as pastor to Eagle Grove in 1890 as the first resident pastor of that community Mass was still being offered in the Gray home so regularly that the vestments were kept tucked away in a dresser drawer awaiting the next appearance of the priest. The early settlers soon decided that there was a need for a church. A group of men got together with the priest, who set out to buy land for their building project. The older members wished to buy land for only the church. but one of the members held out for the purchase of the entire block because it was so reasonable in price and because in the future they might wish to build a rectory for the priest. They bought the ground on May 14, 1889, from the lowa Railroad Land Company and recorded it in the name of Bishop John Hennessey of Dubuque. The actual construction of the church must have started soon after the purchase of the land, not later than 1890 and perhaps even 1889. Projects were used in raising money for the new church. Tom Powers donated a horse, parishioners sold chances and it was won by Francis Henneberry.
   The first appointed resident pastor was Father Thomas L. O'Brien appointed in 1893. People who had been attending Mass whenever and wherever they could came to Duncombe to become a part of St. Joseph Parish. another family until a church rectory was built in 1893. In that same year, the sacrament of confirmation was administered for the first time.
   The early settlers were either buried in the Fort Dodge or Webster City Catholic cemeteries until the early months of 1902, when ground for a cemetery was purchased.
The present church, built in 1909 at a cost of $18,000, was dedicated by Bishop Garrigan in 1910. The present rectory was built in 1922 at a cost of $12000. In 1846, a recreation center was erected on church property at a cost of $21,000.
   In 1957, a fire of undetermined origin caused approximately $10,000 worth of damage to the interior of the church. Mass was held in the parish hall while the interior of the church was repaired.

In July 1997, a cluster formed with Our Lady of Good Counsel at Moorland. In July 1999, Christ the King in Dayton was added to the cluster.

In 2003, St. Joseph (Duncombe) became part of the Catholic Team Parishes of Webster County

2006 - 150 years of faith in Webster County.

2006 - Bishop Nickless decrees that the Parish of the Holy Trinity be established.  Holy Trinity Parish is now the official name of our parish in Webster County while maintaining the existing names of each church worship site.

2008 - Long Range Collaborative Planning with St. Edmond Catholic School System.   Parish reduced from 4 to 3 priests. Closure of Barnum, Duncombe and Holy Rosary.   Long range planning process led to one site vision.