Presbyterians Recall Early Church Days in Santa Paula

May 13, 2015
Santa Paula News

“Presbyterians Recall Early Church Days in Santa Paula.”  That was the headline in the Santa Paula Chronicle in May of 1923 when the church was celebrating its 40th anniversary.  Today, May 13, 2015 they celebrate 132 years of ministry.  From that 1923 article we share some snippets of interest.

Santa Paula at that time had a small hotel, hall, store, blacksmith shop, and a saloon, but no church building.  There were few houses and the population at most was less than a hundred.  Baptist and Methodist churches had both been organized and met one Sunday each month for services in the school house, which was then located at the corner of Mill and Ventura Streets.

On July 26, 1879 the Union Church with fifteen charter members was organized.  They also met one Sunday a month in the schoolhouse.  A Sunday school was held each Sunday, which was a union Sunday school of all the churches.  About that time the Methodist church was built and it was used in turn by the three churches.  On May 13, 1883 the Union church disbanded and the Presbyterian Church was organized with 21 charter members.

In the fall of 1886, the congregation decided to build a sanctuary at the corner of Main and Davis Streets.  The cornerstone for the church was laid in 1887 and the dedicatory service was held in 1889, the total building cost being $13,500.  Although a part of the money had been raised, there still remained an indebtedness of about $8,000.  At this time, money was very scarce and the rate of interest was 10%.  Because of the burden of the debt, it was voted to move the church to the rear of the lot, sell the frontage on Main Street, where the church stood and apply the money received on the debt.  This was done in 1895.

The original church building was destroyed by fire on June 7, 1932, but services were continued in the Sunday School annex building until the completion of the present stone building which was dedicated on November 5, 1933.  The total cost of the building and furnishing was approximately $30,000.  Several lots directly north of the church and the parking lot on the other side of Davis Street were purchased at later dates.  

Twenty-six pastors, nine associate ministers, three interim ministers, and one commissioned lay minister have served the congregation since 1883 , and 3,579 individuals at one time or another have been active members of the congregation.  Currently, twenty-five people have been members 50 years or more with May Caldwell having been a member the longest for 79 years.  The congregation has given a vital witness in the local community and in the total mission of the church.  Services continue to be held weekly in the church building and in the park.  

The hope and expectation of the early church as stated and recorded in the minutes of the organization meeting are as relevant today as they were in 1883,  “May the Lord bless this church abundantly and make it a blessing to multitudes.”





Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster