Celebrating Our Present

First Congregational Church

140^th Anniversary Series #1

Period          Location

1860-66             Montecito brick schoolhouse

1866-69             Casa de Aguirre on East Carrillo
This adobe had been the courthouse, 1850-53; church services were held in the courtroom, with men sitting in the middle and women in the jury box.

Ministries

Church School: Our roots lie in an nondenominational Sabbath School that met in a brick schoolhouse in Montecito beginning in 1860. Congregational minister Joseph Johnson arrived in November 1866 and began holding services in the former courthouse; the Montecito Church School joined with this group.

Ministers:      1866-69        Joseph A. Johnson
                   1869-70        E. H. Betts

Experiences

The church was originally chartered as an "Ecclesiastical Society and Church of the Congregational Faith and Order" with 16 members on September 6, 1867.

Reverend Johnson performed Santa Barbara's first Protestant wedding on September 1, 1867.

In June 1869, several members of the 22-member congregation split off to form a Presbyterian church.

Sometime between 1869 and the mid-1870's, the church held an open house for the entire town and there gave Santa Barbarans their first taste of ice cream (the ice was shipped in from San Francisco).

First Congregational Church

140^th Anniversary Series #2

 
 Period             Location

1869-89                                 Corner of Santa Barbara and Ortega

cornerstone laid September 1869

dedicated May 29, 1870

after we left, the building became the first campus of what would become UCSB

historical marker placed by Native Daughters of the Golden West on October 21, 1956

Ministries

Outreach: In the 1870?s the Ladies' Aid and Missionary Societies were organized.

Christian Education: In 1875 the church started a Chinese Mission to teach English to and Christianize Chinese immigrants. This ministry continued for over 25 years.

Ministers:      1869-70        E. H. Betts

1871-79                     J. W. Hough

1879-85                     supply pastors Burdick, Merrill,
          F. P. Baker, S. R. Weldon,

G. B. Tolman, C. L. Sturgis, F. A. Beckwith,
         Charles S. Vaile, and Edward W. Bacon

1885-93        C. T. Weitzel

Experiences

In 1871 the newspaper described the choir's music as "a most substantial and satisfactory feast of the soul." Our commitment to outstanding music began early!

The church housed Santa Barbara?s first lending library, established in 1875 by Kate Douglas Wiggins, author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.

Articles of Incorporation were filed on October 21, 1887, officially naming the church: First Congregational Church of Santa Barbara.

First Congregational Church

140^th Anniversary Series #3

 Period          Location

1889-1907                         Corner of Anacapa and Figueroa

dedicated October 6, 1889

sold building to a Lutheran congregation in 1906

Ministries

Outreach: In the mid-1890's, Reverend Forbes arranged for the rental of a large storeroom as a recreational facility for the town's youth and installed a bowling alley, a billiard table, and various athletic apparatus.

Christian Education: Reverend Forbes held midweek prayer meetings, discussing such topics as socialism, communism, cooperation, temperance reform, and women's suffrage.

Ministers:      1885-93        C. T. Weitzel

1893-95                     Rev. Pearce and other supply pastors

1895-1902             Frank S. Forbes

1902-15        William Cross Merrill

Experiences

This new building had a kitchen and social hall, enabling social events to be held in the church rather than in members' homes.

The Annual Report for 1900 listed a membership of 220 and an annual budget of $2115 (including pastors' salary of $1500).

First Congregational Church

140^th Anniversary Series #4

Period          Location

1907-36                                 Corner of State and Sola

first meetings held July 1907

                        dedicated December 7 or 8, 1907

Ministries

Christian Education/Outreach: A Japanese group separated from the Chinese Mission in 1907. We helped this group found the Japanese Congregational Church in 1913; that church eventually became Bethany Congregational Church on Hope Avenue.

Fellowship: Programs included the Priscillas, Men's Brotherhood, and Christian Endeavor.

Ministers:      1902-15        William Cross Merrill

1915-17                     George H. Greenfield

1917-20                     Chester Ferris

1920-23                     Rev. Batten

1923-30                     Paul A. Davies

1930-33                     Charles M. Calderwood

1934-38        R. Arthur Basham

Experiences

The church was one of the few structures in town to survive the earthquake of June 29, 1925. There was minor structural damage.

A fire on December 22, 1928 destroyed the main church building. The Sunday School wing was saved, and the church worshipped there after the fire. A December 27 proposal to disband the congregation was "quickly abandoned." The burned chapel was never rebuilt.

Former president Calvin Coolidge and his wife attended worship on February 23, 1930.

First Congregational Church

140^th Anniversary Series #5

Period          Location

1936-present      Corner of State and Padre (2101 State)

                        groundbreaking December 1, 1935

                        cornerstone laid May 3, 1936

                        first worship service September 6, 1936

                        dedicated January 10, 1937 (dedicatory events

                        January 10-13)

Ministries

Christian Education: A snapshot of the 1942 CE program: Cradle Roll, Nursery, Beginners, Primary, Juniors, Intermediates, Bible class, Sunday evening college group, young adult group, club for mothers of Sunday School children , men's club. We had a nationally acclaimed Adult Education program under Reverend Davis in the 1960's.

Fellowship: Programs included Becomers, Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, Dorcas Circle, Girl Scouts, Mayflower Circle, Men's Club, Scrooby-Doo, Senior Brunch, Shipmates, and Young Adults.

Outreach: Supported organizations and programs included Cachuma Church Camp, Convalescent Hospital Care Program, Family-to-Family Fellowship, Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Heath House, Heifer Project International, Neighbors in Need, One Great Hour of Sharing, SB Homeless Shelter, SB Preschool, SHIFCO low-cost senior housing, Soup Kitchen, and Transition House. A special outreach partner was the Storyteller preschool, which used Fellowship Hall for its weekday program from the early 1990's to 2000, when the manse next door was remodeled specifically for its use.

Youth: Church members used precious rationed gas during World War II to provide transportation to keep the youth program going strong.

Ministers:      1934-38        R. Arthur Basham

1938-43                     Wilfred I. Orr

1944-45                     Herman Frank Swartz

1946-52                     Clinton Eugene Sill

1952-53                     Robert Warren

1953-56                     Marvin D. Brown

1956-59                     Saul Miller

1959-64                     Jack Davis Stocking

1964-65                     Harold G. Jones

1965-71                     Walter Bond Davis

1971-78                     Fredrick B. James

1978-83                     James Watson

1983-84                     Paul Yinger

1984-92        Paul L. Kittlaus

1992-97        Interims: Susan LaBare Copeland,
                   Gwynne K. Schultz,
                   Robert Adams,
                   Jo Siders

                   1997-2003     Peggy Johnson
                   2003 - 2006   Interim: Bill Petersen
                   2006 - 2007   Acting Lead Minister: Wr'near Wilcox
                   2007 -           Betty Sue Sherrod

Experiences

A merger with the First Christian Church was seriously considered in 1937.

The church had a weekly radio program in the 1940's and 1960's.

A pastor's study was added to the building in 1950.

In 1952 Reverend Warren initiated a weekly newsletter, The Churchman, the forerunner of Church Life.

The painting Angel of the Resurrection by Karl Gutherz was donated to commemorate the church's 90^th anniversary in 1956.

The church affiliated with the newly (1956) formed United Church of Christ during Reverend Stocking's pastorate (1959-64).

The Christian Education wing, Southwick Hall, was dedicated
November 22, 1959.

In 1965 a sanctuary renovation included remodeling the chancel.

In 1974 a woman deacon served communion for the first time and the first ordained woman staff person was hired (Gwynne Schultz as half-time Minister of Christian Education).

The Chancel Choir toured Germany in 1987 as a mission of peace and cultural exchange.

During a major building renovation in 1988, the congregation met at temple B'nai B'rith.

A fire on February 21, 2000 destroyed the sanctuary. The congregation met in Fellowship Hall during reconstruction. The dedicatory service on January 14, 2001 featured a commissioned choral work by Eric Davis, "Psalms of Joy, Sorrow, and Thanksgiving."

A Salute to Long-Time Members

Hannah Todd                             joined 1947
Mary Turner                               joined 1949
Ginny & Bob Norris                   joined 1954

Thelma & Walter Mead            joined 1958
Jud Holmes                                joined 1960
Jean Southwick                         joined 1960

Alan Johnston                           joined 1962
Marilyn Van Donge                   joined 1963
Al and Joanne Ando                 joined 1964
Roger Staples                            joined 1964
Ellie Starfas                               joined 1964
Kay Utterback                           joined 1964
Arnold Schweigert                    joined 1965