Old North Church (Sierra Madre, California)

Old North Church (ONC) is in Sierra Madre, California and is a historic landmark building built in 1890, one of the oldest churches and buildings in Sierra Madre. The Old North Church is owned by it builder Sierra Madre Congregational Church, called First Congregational Church of Sierra Madre at the time of completion.[1] It is site #45 on Sierra Madre designated historical landmarks list. There are forty-eight properties listed on Sierra Madre's Designated Historical Properties List.[2][3] In September of 2018 Sierra Madre Congregational Church changed its name to Christ Church Sierra Madre.[4]

This article is about Old North Church in Sierra Madre, California, for Boston see:. For other uses, see Old North Church.
Old North Church
Christ Church Sierra Madre - Sierra Madre Congregational Church
Old North Church, Sierra Madre, California, a historic landmark.
Old North Church in Sierra Madre, California
General information
StatusUsed for Youth Groups
and Indonesia Church: Jemaat Kristen
Architectural styleGeorgian architecture
Town or citySierra Madre, California
CountryUnited States
Coordinates34.1622306°N 118.0566944°W / 34.1622306; -118.0566944
Elevation263 m (863 ft)
Current tenantsChrist Church Sierra Madre, formerly called Sierra Madre Congregational Church
Construction startedApril 1890
CompletedDec. 14, 1890
Cost$3,300
Technical details
Structural systemWood
DesignationsSierra Madre Historic Landmark #40
Website
https://www.christchurchsm.org

History

The Old North Church was constructed by hand with local wood. It is located on the north side of the current Sierra Madre Blvd at Hermosa. In 1890 Sierra Madre Blvd was a dirt street called Central Avenue. Old North Church is currently owned by its builder, Sierra Madre Congregational Church. The Old North Church is closely linked with the early settlement of Sierra Madre.[5] The community of Sierra Madre was established in the fall of 1881. Sierra Madre Congregational Church started as a Sunday School class in February 1882. Without a building of its own, the church originally met in the city's original 1882 one-room schoolhouse at the corner of Hermosa and Live Oak, now called Orange Grove. To use the schoolhouse as a church on Sunday mornings, the pump organ, hymnbooks, and winter firewood were transported to the schoolhouse by the attendees. The following years the Church met in the original City Hall at the corner Baldwin and Central Ave (Sierra Madre), then the original city library (1889), located at the current library site. With the completion of the Old North Church in 1890, the church had its own meeting spot. Congregational Church of Sierra Madre was officially established on March 27, 1886 as a nondenominational church congregational church, with 13 founding members, called First Congregational Church of Sierra Madre then. One of the 13 founding members was Mrs. Annetta M. Carter, wife of the city founder Nathaniel Coburn Carter. From 1908 to 1910 the Old North Church was expanded with the addition of new meeting rooms.[5][6][7]

The Church's second, and current, main building was built across the street. Construction of the new building started in 1926 with Pritchard Hall and was completed in 1928 with the new sanctuary dedicated on June 17, 1928. The sanctuary cornerstone was laid on Feb. 19, 1928.[5] The 1928 Church building is also a Sierra Madre designated historical landmark, as site #39. Having outgrown the Old North Church in the mid 1920s, the Congregational Church of Sierra Madre built a new stone Church in a Romanesque Revival architecture style, designed by Marsh, Smith, & Powell.[8] Later after the move, the Old North Church was rented to the First Church of the Nazarene in 1939, then purchased by them in 1942. After the Church of the Nazarene outgrew the Old North Church, it was sold back to Sierra Madre Congregational Church in 1976.[9] Congregational Church purchased back the Old North Church for the use of its youth and children, its current role. Sierra Madre's Cub Scouts Pack 373, and some of Boy Scouts Troop 373, meetings are held in the Old North Church. Troop 373 was founded in the Old North Church in 1924. Cub Scouts Pack 373 was started in 1971. Troop 373 was one of the founders of the Sierra Madre Fourth of July parade that then ran from historic Sierra Madre Memorial Park (across the street from the ONC) to historic Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery.[10][11]

The Old North Church survived the 1991 Sierra Madre earthquake relatively undamaged. The 1928 building had damage to the bell tower, which was torn down brick by brick and rebuilt. The original ONC bell tower was built with a barn shaped roof, modeled after a Dutch church in Holland.[12] Later the Church of the Nazarene changed the bell tower to have a more classic pointed spire. The bell tower housed the 1893 bell weighing 517 pounds, in 1928 the bell was moved to the new south bell tower.[13][14]

In 1890 Old North Church attendees had to walk, ride a horse or ride in a horse buggy. In January 1906 the Pacific Electric street car was installed and rolled in front of the Old North Church, on the Sierra Madre Line, each day from January 1, 1906 till service ended on October 6, 1950.[8][15]

Mrs. Annetta M. Carter (Feb, 10, 1846-Sept. 24, 1937), wife of Nathaniel Coburn Carter (Jan. 24, 1840 - Sept. 2, 1904), was key founder of Sierra Madre Congregational Church.[5]Nathaniel and Annetta married in Feb. of 1864 and had 5 children: Florence, (now Mrs. William H. Mead); Arthur N. (b1868), Julia F., Anita E. (the first child born in the Sierra Madre, (b1883, m1910 to Holt R Gregory) and Phillip C (b1885). Annetta M. Pierce (Carter) and Nathaniel both were natives of Lowell, Massachusetts, Nathaniel came to California for his health in 1871.[16][17][18] In February 1881, Nathaniel Carter purchased the original 1103 acres that comprised the new city of Sierra Madre. The land was acquired in three purchases: 845 acres of Rancho Santa Anita from Lucky Baldwin, 108 acres from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and 150 acres from John Richardson (1811-Aug. 9, 1884).[19] With no church in the new small town Annetta Carter helped form the worship group in 1882 that became Sierra Madre Congregational Church.[20][21] The ONC bell was made and installed in 1893, and has the quote on it "Let him who hears come." made by Meneely Bell Foundry, Troy, NY. The bell was presented to the Church by Mr. A. S. Bixby, from Bixby Knolls, Long Beach. The bell was used for Sunday services and funerals, but also had a civic duty, to alert the all-volunteer Fire Department.

The original 1904 Pastor's parsonage house was on the north side of Central Avenue (about 127 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard), but as the city grew the house was now on a busy street, so in 1923 the parsonage was moved to Hermosa, just south of the main SMCC building.[22]

Just to the west of the Old North Church are two other historic buildings: a 1919 Old Mortuary (was Ripple Mortuary, now called the New Life Center) and the 1915 Caretaker American Craftsman home (now called the Hospitality House). Both structures were purchased by SMCC in 1986.[23]

The 1928 sanctuary has stained glass windows that were given as memorials. The north side of the sanctuary has Apostles windows and on the south side are Prophets windows. The sanctuary east and west walls have two large windows, the east an Angel window with the verse "Glory to God in the Highest." and the circular west window is "Christ the Teacher," that was given by the Women's Society and dedicated all the children of Sierra Madre. The lower south widows were a gift from Dick and Dotty Anderson in 2008. Memorial chimes were installed in 1944 in to the tower, these played for many years on the hour.[24]

In 1971 Sierra Madre Congregational Church and Bethany Church started the Sierra Madre Christmas Candlelight Walk. The first Candlelight Procession was led by Pastor Bob Vander Zaag of Bethany Church and Rev. Richard Anderson of Sierra Madre Congregational Church.

In September of 2018 Sierra Madre Congregational Church changed its name to Christ Church Sierra Madre.[25][26]

  • Christ Church Sierra Madre - Sierra Madre Congregational Church, a historic landmark
    Sierra Madre Historic Landmark #44
    Architect: Marsh, Smith, & Powell
    Construction started: 1925
    Construction completion: 1928
    Total Cost: $80,000
    *Pritchard Hall and Admin building $40,000
    *Sanctuary $35,000
    *Furniture $5,000
    Architectural style: Romanesque Revival
    Across the Street from Old North Church
  • Old North Church in Sierra Madre at completion in 1890
  • Original 1887 Sierra Madre City Library on Central Ave, renamed Sierra Madre Blvd in 1936. Sierra Madre Congregational Church temporary meeting place in 1889.
  • Original 1895 Sierra Madre Town Hall (with Cigar Factory next door) at Baldwin and Central Ave (now a gas station) . Sierra Madre Congregational Church temporary meeting place.
  • Central Ave, Sierra Madre, CA in 1905. A mule team is grading the Ave for the installation of the 1906 Pacific Electric street car, in the background is the Old North Church with the original barn roof bell tower.
  • Old North Church Sierra Madre California 1909
  • Sierra Madre Memorial Park at Sierra Madre Blvd and Hermosa looking North. From foreground to back ground: Weeping Wall Veterans Memorial, Sierra Madre Veterans Time Capsule bench, 1905 World War I Cannon, Sierra Madre Boulevard, The Old North Church and the San Gabriel Mountains
  • Old North Church in 1906, looking North on Hermosa Ave.
  • Marquis Lafayette Gordon, first pastor from 1886 to 1887

Notable pastors
  • Marquis (Marcus) Lafayette Gordon MD (1843-1900), pastor 1886 to 1887. First pastor, part-time. A medical missionary to Kyoto, Japan. He was in Sierra Madre for one year with his wife Agnes and four children.[27][28][29]
  • Lucien Haskell Fray, pastor from 1887 to 1888[30]
  • Ephraim E. P. Abbott, pastor from 1888 to 1898.[31][32]
  • W. H. Stubbins, pastor 1898 to 1900.[33][34]
  • Rev. Charles S. Rich, pastor from 1902 to 1903.[35]
  • Dr. James M. Campbell D. D., pastor from 1903 to 1912[36][37][38][39]
  • William H. Hannaford pastor 1912, 1914-16[40][41][42]
  • Fred Staff, Pastor from 1913 to 1914 and again from 1923 to Nov. 1925, from 1914 to 1916 he returned to Sweden, his native country. Died while pastor. He is honored in SMCC's Fred Staff room.[43][44][45][46]
  • Rev. C. C. Wilson, pastor 1914 to 1918.[47][48]
  • Rev. W. J. Thompson (Rev. Dr. William J. Thompson), pastor from March 1920 to 1923 (his last church to pastor), from Sheffield came to the US in 1910, later was president of United Amateur Press Association of America.[49][50]
  • Arthur O. Pritchard, pastor at the time of the opening of the new building in 1928, Pritchard Hall is named after him. Pastor from 1926 to 1940.[51][52][53] From Hollywood Congregational Church[54]
  • George Lindsay pastor from March 1956 to 1964, 20th pastor, (no pastor till Howell)[55][56][57]
  • Rev. David Howell Jr. pastor 1966 to 1968.[58]
  • Richard (Dick) Anderson, Sr. Pastor for 40 years, from 1968 to 2008. He is honored in SMCC's Anderson Terrance.[59][60][61]
  • James J. Stewart Jr., associate pastor, Now pastor at Journey Covenant Church, Redondo Beach, California.[62]
  • Ken Cromeenes, Pastor of Administration 1980s to 2000s.[63]
  • John Reed, associate pastor 1986 to 1996, former Army Chaplain.
  • Tim Thompson, associate pastor (May 2002 – October 2008) and founder of The Church Works.[64][65][66]
  • Rick Bundschuh youth pastor 1978, author of Deep Like Me: (Or Another Failed Attempt to Walk on Water).[67]
  • Jim Zeilenga, pastor of assimilation and outreach from April 1987 to March 2004. Now pastor at Valencia Hills Community Church.[68][69]
  • Larry Mills, minister of Christian education, 2000s[70]
  • John Eldredge associate pastor 1983-1988, now author, counselor, and lecturer on Christianity.[71]
  • Brian Anderson, youth pastor 1987-1990, now Pastor at Mission Hills Church.[72][73]
  • Steve Wiebe, youth pastor 1992-1999, now founder and director of Neighborhood Urban Family Center.[74][75]
  • Rick Mumford, youth pastor 2004 to 2006, now with KC Metro.[76]
  • Johnny Johnston, youth pastor 2006-2010. now Jennersville Campus Pastor, Willowdale Chapel, Kennett Square, PA[77][78][79]
  • Roger Van Spronsen, associate pastor 1988-2009, now pastor at Life Christian Fellowship.[80][81]
  • Paul S. Beck, Sr. pastor for six years, 2008 to 2014.[82]
  • Steve Miller, Intentional Interim Senior Pastor of Sierra Madre Congregational Church, 2014 to Nov. 2016.[83]
  • Gavin Rutherford Ortlund, associate pastor (October 2014 to Nov. 2016) and former youth Pastor at SMCC (Oct. 2010-Oct 2014). Son of Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr. and Grandson of Raymond C. Ortlund Sr..[84][85][86] Now Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Ojai[87]
  • Abel Burke, youth Pastor at SMCC for 6 years (2012 to March 2018)[88]
  • Dr. Hugh Ross, pastor for outreach and apologetics from 1971 to present (part-time starting in 1987).[89]
  • Josh Swanson, Sr. Pastor, Dec. 2017 to present, previously with Hope Church in Albuquerque, NM.[90]
  • Robert Covolo, SMCC's Pastor of Theological Formation & Missional Engagement and Director of Pastoral Residency and Internship Program. 2018 to present.[91][92][93]
  • Justin Sapp Director of Student and College Ministries 2018 to present.[94][95]

See also

References
  1. "Old North Church church, California, United States". us.geoview.info. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  2. "Historic Preservation - Sierra Madre". www.cityofsierramadre.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  3. "Sierra Madre: Historic Properties". www.smhps.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  4. Christ Church Sierra Madre, official web site
  5. "christchurchsm.org/about/, Sierra Madre Congregational Church-(SMCC), Church History, EARLY YEARS". smccnet.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  6. "Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society, Old North Church" (PDF). smhps.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  7. "Photo Gallery". www.smhps.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  8. "Sierra Madre Historical Timeline - Sierra Madre". www.cityofsierramadre.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  9. City of Sierra Madre, General Plan Technical Background Report, September 2012, PDF file, cityofsierramadre.com/documents
  10. Pack 373. "Pack 373 Dens". Pack373. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  11. Troop 373. "Boy Scouts Troop 373". Troop373. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  12. "Photo Gallery". www.smhps.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  13. "Old North Church Barn roof". pinimg.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  14. Independent Star-News from Pasadena, California, Page 72, February 15, 1959
  15. "Pacific Electric Sierra Madre Line". www.erha.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  16. "Nathaniel Coburn Carter". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  17. LA Times, Community Profile: Sierra Madre, January 23, 1996, by CECILIA RASMUSSEN
  18. Annual Publication of the Historical Society of Southern California, Volume 6, Page 178, In memory of Nathaniel Coburn Carter
  19. Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society, September 2016 Newsletter
  20. "THE MT. WILSON OBSERVER, January 5 - January 10, 200, Sierra Madre Turns 100, Year Long Celebration Begins, By Susan Henderso, Page 3" (PDF). mvobserver.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  21. Annual Publications of the Historical Society of Southern California, Volume 6, page 178
  22. "40 S. Hermosa The Parsonage, 1904, By Maggie Ellis, 2014" (PDF). smhps.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  23. "mtnviewsnews.com, Mountain News News, Volume 9 No. 16, Did You Ever Want To Peek Inside The Old North Church Across From Memorial Park, Saturday, April 18, 2015" (PDF). mtnviewsnews.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  24. Independent Star-News Pasadena, page 8, March 20, 1966
  25. "Sierra Madre News Net » Restored Creche Figures to "Debut" at Dickens Village". www.sierramadrenews.net. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  26. "Sierra Madre News Net » Candlelight Procession, 2015 – Photos and Video". www.sierramadrenews.net. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  27. Dartmouth Libraries, Gordon, Marquis Lafayette
  28. geni.com, Marcus Lafayette Gordon
  29. "Jim Constantia, Church Historian Sierra Madre Congregational Church" (PDF). smhps.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  30. History of Haverhill, N.H., By John Quincy Bittinger, Lucien Haskell Fray, page 325
  31. Biographical Sketches of the Class of 1863, Dartmouth College, By John Scales, page 130
  32. The Pacific, Volume 54, Jan. 7, 1904, page 10
  33. Southern California Congregational Conference (29 September 2018). Minutes of the ... Annual Meeting of the Southern California Congregational …. T.T. Jones Co. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  34. Congregationalist, Advance, Volume 106, page 781, W. H. "Stubbins, Jan. 6, 1921
  35. Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Southern California Congregational Churches, 1913 Pomona, Ca., Rev. Charles S. Rich, Page 39, From Stockbridge, Mass.
  36. The Lutheran Quarterly, Volume 42, 1912, Page 133
  37. The Continent, newspaper, Volume 43, March 28, 1912, page 429
  38. Northwestern Christian Advocate, Volume 60, page 350, March 12, 1912
  39. "Excerpts from the writings of James M. Campbell (1840-1926)". www.christinyou.net. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  40. ancestry.com, William H Hannaford
  41. Desert Sun, Number 188, Indio Woman Honored As California Mother of 1958, Ruth writes about her father, William H Hannaford, Page 8, May 1, 1958
  42. The Pacific - Volume 65, Issues 1-26 - Page 10
  43. Congregational churches in the United States. National council (29 September 2018). The Congregational year-book. Boston, Congregational publishing society; [etc., etc.] Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  44. "The Communicator - First Congregational Church, page 10, by Chris Steenbergen, Church Historian, April 2015" (PDF). fcucc.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  45. The Pacific, Volume 65, Issues 1-26, page 10, 1915
  46. Santa Ana Register, Page 8, November 7, 1925
  47. Wisconsin Congregational Church Life, Volumes 35-36, 1915
  48. Santa Ana Register, Page 4 , November 17, 1917
  49. Congregational and Advance, Jan. 15, 1920, page 89 Volume 105
  50. "Independent Star-News from Pasadena, California on August 24, 1968 · Page 5". newspapers.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  51. "Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society, 170 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre First Congregational Church 1928, By Maggie Ellis, 2014" (PDF). smhps.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  52. Scarsdale Inquirer, Number 21, 21 June 1940, Former Pastor Honored, The Rev. Arthur O. Pritchard of Sierra Madre, California
  53. Brown University (29 September 2018). Brown alumni monthly. Providence, Brown University [etc.] Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  54. Holly Leaves, Sept. 9, 1922, Hollywood, Volume 11, Issues 25-52, page 30
  55. "Independent Star-News from Pasadena, California on February 15, 1959 · Page 72". newspapers.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  56. Los Angeles Times, Page 381, February 1, 1959
  57. Arcadia Tribune, Page 38, August 4, 1966
  58. Arcadia Tribune, Page 32, September 15, 1966
  59. HARRIS, SCOTT (29 June 1991). "Neighborliness Shines Through in Sierra Madre". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via LA Times.
  60. "Sierra Madre News Net, Front Page, Rev. Richard (Dick) Anderson, 40 years of Service, Aug. 8, 2008" (PDF). mvobserver.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  61. Smith, Billy T. (29 December 2018). The Jesus Movement: Its Development and It's Relationship To The Army Chapel and Chaplains. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  62. "Minutes of the 126th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church, June 29, 2011, Page 477" (PDF). covchurch.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  63. "The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California on June 29, 1992 · Page 8". newspapers.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  64. Rev. Tim Thompson, web site
  65. Notre Dame de Namur University, VOLUME 6, NUMBER 2, MAGAZINE, page 13 Spring 2006]
  66. "Tim Thompson Evangelistic Ministries". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  67. Deep Like Me: (Or Another Failed Attempt to Walk on Water), By Rick Bundschuh, Foreword by Pastor Richard Anderson
  68. "Jim Zeilenga on Linkedin". linkedin.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  69. "Two earthquakes rock California Biggest temblor in decades leaves 1 dead, scores hurt". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  70. "It's Only Natural: An Atmospheric Approach - Sierra Madre Congregational Church Sierra Madre, California, Inviting Volunteers To Minister" (PDF). ministrytransitions.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  71. "Ransomed Heart". www.ransomedheart.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  72. Church, Mission Hills. "Brian Anderson - Staff - Mission Hills Church". missionhillschurch.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  73. HUDSON, BERKLEY (31 March 1988). "Fast Gives Food for Thought on World Hunger". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via LA Times.
  74. "Steve Wiebe Bio" (PDF). apu.edu. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  75. "Contact". NEIGHBORHOOD URBAN FAMILY CENTER. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  76. "Young Life, staff Rick Mumford". younglife.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  77. linkedin.com, Johnny Johnston
  78. Seminary, Fuller Theological (17 November 2008). "Youth Ministry at Fuller: Johnny Johnston". Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Vimeo.
  79. "lLCF - Contact". lcf.squarespace.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  80. providencecc.edu, Jan Van Spronsen
  81. "lLCF - Contact". lcf.squarespace.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  82. "linkedin.com, Paul Beck". linkedin.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  83. "linkedin.com, Steve Miller". linkedin.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  84. "Soliloquium". Soliloquium. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  85. "One of my Grandad's Sermons". gavinortlund.com. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  86. "What Does Augustine Have to Do with Evolution & the Historical Adam? - Henry Center". tiu.edu. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  87. First Baptist Church of Ojai, Gavin Ortlund
  88. Abel Burke (1 February 2017). "The Power of the Word - Hebrews 4". Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  89. "Hugh Ross". www.reasons.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  90. "SMCC, smccnet.org, SMCC Leadership". smccnet.org. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  91. "Leadership". sierra madre congregational church. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  92. "Bob Covolo - People, Biola University". www.biola.edu. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  93. "Robert Covolo - Biola University - Academia.edu". biola.academia.edu. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  94. "Leadership". sierra madre congregational church. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  95. "Justin Sapp". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.