The Church In The Wildwood, Iowa Sheet Music Postcard

The Church in the Wildwood by William S. Pitts

There's a church in the valley by the wildwood
No lovelier place in the dale
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dale.  - Chorus

There, close by the side of that loved one
'Neath the trees where the wild flowers bloom
When the farewell hymns shall be chanted
I shall rest by her side in the tomb.  - Chorus

How sweet, on a clear Sabbath morning
To listen to the clear ringing bells
Its tones, so sweetly, are calling
Oh, come to the church in the vale.  - Chorus

There, close by the church in the valley
Lies one that I loved so well
She sleeps, sweetly sleeps, 'neath the willow
Disturb not her rest in the vale.

Chorus:
Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.

The Little Brown church in the Vale, Nashua, Iowa, organized 1855, built 1860 - 64.  Here William S. Pitts, M.D., sang "The Church in the Wildwood" for the first time in 1864.  This American shrine is visited by thousands annually, and many make memorable pilgrimages for their sacred wedding ceremony.

Rev. Glenn L. Utterback, B.D., is the Minister

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Here is a youtube video of Dolly Parton singing this song - The first time I heard it I though, nice, but very old.  But now it is going through my head and I am liking it more and more.