|
|
Over
135 Years of Faithful Witness:
A History of the Sebastopol United Methodist Church
Class meetings
and preachings were held in homes, dance halls, school buildings, etc.,
before our first church was built. The Reverend George Clifford, who was
assigned to Santa Rosa Methodist Church in 1866, conducted services in
the Crist Dance Hall in Sebastopol until he could secure a lot and build
a church. The land was donated by Dr. Plunkett, a woman doctor who ran
a home for wayward girls near our present Epworthian Hall site. The trustees
of Green Valley Methodist Church, our mother church, signed the deed and
saw that our pulpit was filled. The wooden building, a cozy 40 ft. by
60 ft., was completed in 1867. It had one aisle down the center with wooden
pews on each side and was heated by a wood stove. Sebastopol was part
of a circuit which at times included Guerneville, Forestville, Green Valley,
Bloomfield and Occidental; services were held semimonthly. Lorenzo L.
Fellers was assigned to this circuit from 1882-84.
1889-1892 Rev. Lorr M. Ewing, our first pastor, was a cowboy preacher,
rough and ready. In 1891 Bloomfield was added to his charge and remained
with Sebastopol until 1895. The first bell given to the church was in
honor of William Hotle's father. At the first meeting of the Methodist
women on May 27, 1890 a name was chosen for the group. It was decided
that only the initials should be made public. Anyone desiring to know
the name must become a member. The imposing title was the L.B.& S.
Society, Ladies Beneficial and Social Society.
1892-1893 Rev. Frank L. Tuttle In 1892, Mrs. Beeson, Luther Burbank's
sister, who lived on Burbank Experimental Farm, invited the youth of the
church to her home for prayer meetings and organized a study class for
young people called the Epworth League. There were a few other Epworth
League organizations in other churches at that time, but we were one of
the earliest. There were seven original members including president, William
Hotle. On May 15, 1889 the District Epworth League was organized with
Mary D. Hotle as president. The youth sometimes came in horse and buggy
from as far as 20 or 25 miles.
1893-1896 Thomas R. Bartley was reserved but loved by all the children.
His wife was famous for big onion pies.
1896-1898 Rev. J.C. Bolster Soon after Rev. Bolster was appointed
the church burned down. The Reverend boarded in downtown Sebastopol and
preached in a large tent until the second church was completed. This church
had gas lamps. The first service was held on August 18, 1897. At that
time the pastor's salary was $700. There were 121 church members, 19 probationers,
and 160 scholars in Sunday School.
1898-1899 Rev. G.M. Meese, his wife Harriet, and the children all
sang trios.
1899-1901 Rev. Thomas B. Palmer was a diligent student of the Word
and presented deep insights to the people in his preaching.
1901-1903 Rev. Edwin H. Smith was an Occidental boy. This was his
first charge. He had paperweights made with his picture and the second
church, showing rail and bank where our cement wall is now.
1903-1905 Rev. Fred R. Winsor was a good singer and a great preacher.
His carefully prepared sermons, earnestly delivered, and his spirituality
made him a favorite speaker. He was called to preach in many other communities.
When the railroad went through town in 1904-05 the church hill was cut
down. This left the church with a $3,544.57 bill for the building of a
wall around the property and for paving. The Ladies Aid took over the
debt about 1923. For years they served lunch to the Rotary in the Chamber
of Commerce building every Friday. Lois White was chairperson of this
project. The debt was paid off in 1938 when Mildred Fredricks was president.
1905-1909 Rev. Whitman Philo Stanley The first parsonage was moved
to Florence Avenue (rolled on logs) and a new parsonage was built (now
called Asbury House). Several trees had to be sacrificed, causing much
anguish and controversy. Mrs. Palmer, wife of Rev. Thomas B. Palmer, gave
land in back of the parsonage for a right of way. Our church was first
incorporated in January, 1906.
1909-1911 Rev. James L. Case was energetic and enthusiastic.
1911-1916 Rev. William P. Rankin By 1913 the second church had
just been remodeled for $1,000 and Epworthian Hall erected at a cost of
$2,000. Rev. Rankin, a strong advocate of prohibition, did quite a bit
of speaking on the "wet" versus "dry" question. He
was even warned to stay off the streets at night. On October 22, 1914,
the church was set on fire (also Occidental Methodist and the two Congregational
churches in Green Valley and Sebastopol. A fire at the Catholic church
was found in time to save the church). When the streetcar came down from
Monte Rio about 2 a.m. a member of the crew saw the blaze. As the crew
rushed up to the church they could smell kerosene. The church burned to
the ground and the fir trees around the church were flaming torches that
could be seen for miles. The "wets" were given credit for the
burning. Epworthian Hall was badly damaged, but not destroyed. It was
fully covered, but only $2,000 insurance was carried on the church. The
congregation met in Lincoln Hall (a large hall behind the present library
site where revivals were held) while rebuilding the hall, and then services
were held in Epworthian Hall. The cost of the new edifice was $11,500.
On October 12, 1915 the new Spanish Colonial Revival church was dedicated
by Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes with an audience of 600. The organ, the largest
type reed organ made, was placed in the middle of the choir loft. It was
donated by Mary Hotle's father, D.S. Dickson, who died three days later.
A splendid 42" Blymer bell was placed in the tower of the church
by Mr. and Mrs. William Hotle in memory of their little son, William Francis,
and was used for the first time to call our people to the sunrise service.
1916-1918 Rev. A. O. Amundson was called in 1918 to be a chaplain
in the World War.
1918-1920 Rev. Frederick C. Conaway The hitching racks had been
moved to just below our cement wall on the Healdsburg Avenue side where
the Women's Christian Temperance Union had erected a watering trough for
thirsty horses. The Women's Christian Temperance Union played an important
part in our church history, and our women have at times been very active
in the work against liquor, tobacco, and drug addiction.
1920-1924 Mahlon B. Young started printing our first bulletin in
the church basement. He put on programs in which he whistled. He attracted
youth and included them in all the church activities.
1924-1942 Rev. James Phillips was a quiet, hardworking man, with
a good sense of humor, who was loved by all in the community. The young
people enjoyed hearing stories of his early years as a miner in England.
In 1934 the Epworth League made a gift quilt for Rev. and Mrs. Phillips
with 20 signatures to a block. There were 400 people that had signed their
names at a cost of $.20 per name. Lillian Christie (Langford), president
of the League, did most of the embroidering.
Frank Fellers (son of Lorenzo Fellers) was counselor for the Methodist
Youth Fellowship (MYF) and was District and Conference president. In 1929
he made an efficient trailer that could be used for cooking. Frank took
this trailer from one Epworth League Institute to another (and later MYF
camps) during the summers until 1951 when it burned down at Shasta.
In 1935 the church had 316 members, Sunday School 265, Nursery Roll, 38.
Value of the building was $23,000. The Golden Rule class was organized
in October, 1938 with 25 charter members including Gertrude Roberts, Pearl
Welch, John and Helen Crump, Joe and Myrtle Seavers, Elmer and Betty Hankins,
and Clifton and Marjorie Schultz. They were responsible for starting the
nursery during church services.
When the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church South,
and the Methodist Protestant Church united on June 15, 1939, the organization
of women's work changed. The Ladies Aid had cared for parish needs, while
the Women's Home and the Women's Foreign Missionary Societies had ministered
in their respective fields. With unification the Women's Society of Christian
Service assumed control of women's activities. The WSCS in our church
held its first meeting on September 5, 1940 with 102 charter members.
About 1936 the class that Mr. William Hotle had in Sunday School started
our traditional Mother's Day bouquets, which has continued to this day.
The bouquets originally went to mothers 80 years of age or older, but
later were given to all women 80 or over.
Church dinners and Easter breakfasts were held in the church basement
before Epworthian Hall was moved to its present location. Chairs had to
be carried down from the Hall to the basement for dinners. Sunday School
classes were held in Epworthian Hall with dividers between the classes.
Plays were produced for the church and the community. There was a stage
in the Hall. Mrs. Marguerite Mahoney was the director and Will Roberts
was the stage manager.
1942-1948 Rev. Stephen C. Thomas worked especially with Methodist
Youth Fellowship. He was a small man who drove a Ford and all you could
see was his hat. He drove around and gathered the kids for Sunday evening
MYF. Rev. Thomas was the one who urged the church to begin a Methodist
Men's group. Bill Martinson was the first president of the Redwood Empire
District Methodist Men. The men sponsored a troop of Boy Scouts for many
years (Troop #28, Sebastopol). In 1945 the Methodist Men began one of
the outstanding events in our church, the Men's Easter Breakfast. There
were many challenging and inspiring speakers from all walks of life. The
breakfast was cooked by the Wesleyan Service Guild for many years, then
others took that responsibility, with the MYF helping to serve and clean
up. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and working together.
1948-1952 Rev. James Alvin Crawford had a tremendously talented
musical family. Rev. Crawford was also an artist. Mable Crawford was active
in the primary department. The Kumdubbles group began in 1949 and continued
for 25 years. It was a wonderful group for Christian fellowship of married
couples, including some who were not active in regular church activities.
There was much sharing of parental lore, special outings, missionary support,
and just plain fun.
The WCSC began a Christmas Tea in 1950, during the time that Mariam Hotle
Burdo was president and Eunice Martinson was vice president. For several
years the entire program was held in Epworthian Hall. But when more tables
were put in, it was too crowded, so the program was held in the sanctuary
and the tea tables were in the Hall.
1952-1958 Rev. Virgil Wesley Jackson He had valley fever. The pulpit
was remodeled with wings on each end so that the congregation couldn't
see how much Rev. Jackson moved around and kicked. He was so friendly
and at ease in all situations, he couldn't walk down to the post office
without a half dozen people asking him to have coffee. Nellie Jackson
was a good cook and not afraid to wear overalls. On November 22, 1954
C.A. Miller deeded his house to the church to use for the parsonage (our
present parsonage) and the old parsonage was used for Sunday School rooms.
In 1956 Charge Conference records show a membership of 409 and a Church
School enrollment of 494, with an average attendance of 207. In 1955 the
new organ was installed, donated by the Burdo family.
1958-1966 Rev. Lewis Whitehead was born in Bolivia where his parents
were missionaries. Lewis' father, Irving Whitehead, was an important part
of our church, always helping at all the church activities. The shut-ins
were inspired by the Sunday sermons which he took to them on tape. All
ages enjoyed his witty and wise sayings on the blackboard in the Berean
Room (the current choir room).
A loan for $75,000 was obtained from the Bank of Sonoma County on March
1, 1963. The new educational wing was completed on September 25, 1963.
Epworthian Hall was moved from next to the church to its present location
and a kitchen and restrooms were added. The total cost of the project
was over $125,000. At that time the property was valued at $206,000. The
consecration was held January 12, 1964. Participating ministers included
Bishop Donald H. Tippett, the district superintendent, and three former
pastors.
In the early sixties Lyle Leake made the cross in back of the pulpit.
Pete Coleman made the altar rail. At that time the pulpit area was rearranged
and the front pews were removed, replaced by a straight railing. Allen
White made our baptismal font. John Lundberg made the communion table.
The Kumdubble men removed the pews and replaced them after carpet was
installed. In 1966 we held our first all-church family camp. For several
years we met at Mt. Gilead and later at Westminster Woods.
1963-1969 Rev. William Dye (associate pastor) William and Maude
Dye retired as missionaries in India. Rev. Dye took over visitation to
the sick. Maude came to the Sunday School classes regularly to tell the
children stories about life in India. Dr. Dye, as he preferred to be called,
conducted a series of Sunday evening studies about Eastern music and religion.
1966-1970 Rev. Elmer Podoll The last payment on the educational
wing debt was made in May of 1967. A special Dedication Service was held
on November 26, 1967. Bishop Donald Harvey Tippett gave the sermon, and
the mortgage was burned. On September 30, 1968 a new division of the Kumdubbles
was formed. Eventually named the Yungdubbles, it included the younger
couples from the Kumdubbles group and hoped to attract new young couples
in the church. For many years women of the church played organ meditations
20 minutes before church started. Some of those who contributed their
talent unstintingly included Eunice Martinson, Ruth Christensen, Ruth
Durst, Gertrude Roberts, and Grace Dahms.
In 1969 the Fireside Room was remodeled as a memorial to Ivan Roberts
and Ronald Schultz. Also in 1969 the stained glass window of the shepherd
was put in the sanctuary by the Wesleyan Service Guild in memory of Nellie
Matthews.
1970-1974 Rev. William Dalton was a very learned man with a terrific
wife, Tobina.
1974-1979 Rev. Wallace Gordon Riches Wally and Dallas' enthusiasm
for Cursillo was catching. Our newsletter name was changed to "The
Appleseed." The United Methodist Church and the Congregational Church
formed the Burbank Heights housing project in 1975.
1975-1995 Rev. Donald Schilling (associate pastor) Our congregation
voted to use $36,000 of the Williams' bequest to start Operating Getting
It Together, a ministry to help troubled young people, and appointed Rev.
Schilling to direct the program. Dee Schilling, an attorney, still provides
low cost legal services for those who can't afford regular legal fees.
1979-1987 Rev. William Joseph Marx In 1981 our church was designated
an historical building by the West Sonoma County Historical Society. It
is the piece of property in Sebastopol that has been owned the longest
by a single private owner.
For many years there had been water leakage around the south wall of the
sanctuary. In 1980, the trustees, headed by Will Roberts, discovered that
the wall was full of dry rot and unsafe. Some people felt we could not
raise the money to repair it at an estimated cost of $100,000. In the
end, due to the prodigious volunteer labor of Jim Henningsen, Charles
Fellers and others, the repair was completed at a cost of $99,248. In
March of 1985 the congregation was informed that the wood inside the dome
of the bell tower, two pillars holding up the dome and the roof area above
the bell were full of dry rot. The bell could not be used until this was
fixed. $9,000 was raised to repair the dome, reinforce the bell supports
and repair the plaster in the sanctuary.
1987-1994 Rev. Stanley Lloyd Simpson In 1988 the Outreach Committee
began supporting a ministry to the women in both Sonoma County detention
facilities. Twenty-five volunteers were involved in providing chapel services,
educational opportunities, and peer support groups for women in jail.
1994-2001 Rev. Linda P. Snyder was our first woman pastor. Coming
with an early childhood education background, Linda helped us revitalize
our ministry to children and youth. In the fall of 1996, Vickie Glazier
was hired to coordinate our youth program, followed by Candace Saxman
in 2001.
2001-2005
Rev. Karen Paulsen came to us from Point Arena (although she already
owned a home in Sebastopol). This is her second ministerial appointment.
She brings strengths in social awareness and ecumenical unity. In the
summer of 2003, we joined together with St. John's UMC (in Rohnert Park)
and Forestville UMC in the hiring of Dana Greiner to lead a combined 3-church
youth group which called itself CLAY (Christ Led Abiding Youth). Petaluma
UMC youth joined in several months later, followed by Christ UMC in Santa
Rosa in 2004. Each church rotated hosting the youth meetings on a monthly
basis. In the summer of 2004, the front wall of Epworthian Hall was repaired
- damaged drywall was replaced and repainted and the windows were replaced.
Work was done by Ernie Bohn, Paul Schoch, Don Roberts, and Bill Davidson,
all members of our congregation.
2005-
Rev. Judith Stone came to us from the Silicon Valley area, bringing
26 years of pastoral experience. After receiving a degree in Art from
UC Berkeley, she studied Theology and Art in Seminary, for a Masters Degree,
intending to be an Art Therapist, but ending up as a Pastor. During the
26 years prior to her arrival here, she served at churches in Marin, Truckee,
Reno, Chico, and the Los Gatos/Saratoga area.
During the
summer and fall of 2006 the sanctuary roof was replaced, and the exterior
of the buildings were repainted - desert tan for the body of the church
buildings, a light cream color for the trim, a medium terra-cotta for
accents on the trim and a deep terra-cotta for the beautiful dome. The
roof and repainting were paid for by contributions from the congregation
and from money left to the church by Alberta Adamson. Alberta and her
husband had both been very involved with the Board of Trustees and the
maintenance of the church facilities for present and future generations.
Also during
the summer of 2006, the church council pledged $5000 to Habitat for Humanity
in support of Habitat houses being built in the Sebastopol area in 2006
and 2007.
As Mildred Fredricks wrote in her history, "The true evaluation of
a church is not made in figures. It is concerned with the lives of people."
By this standard Sebastopol United Methodist Church has been a faithful
witness for over 135 years!
--
Will and Leaf Roberts
updated
by Lorna Blanc 2006
|
Sebastopol United Methodist Church
