Social Change and Religious Organizations of Meeker County

Abstract

In rural America, churches have traditionally occupied a prominent position in community life. Historically, the rural church met not only people's religious needs but also fulfilled their social, recreational~ welfare, and educational needs. All these needs rural people shared with persons in urban society. But despite this shared concern, the institutional development of rural areas produced a social organization different from urban society. Today, in the midst of rapid and far-reaching changes, the character of religious institutions remains a differentiating factor between rural and urban society. Therefore, fitting the church into the new rural society requires objective analysis of the relation between town and country churches and their social environments.