Our Old
Church on the Corner of Gothard and Warner
 "The
lines have fallen for us in pleasant places;
yea, we have a goodly heritage - Psalms 16:6"
(This historical message was originally delivered by Rev. Galal
Gough on Founder's Day, January 10, 1988, one week after the death
of pioneer member Charles Applebury. Pioneers Ruth Slater and John
Murdy were still living at the time. Pictures and biographical
information were provided by families of our pioneers. The
manuscript was typed by Wanda Langlotz, and proofread by Fred
Langlotz.)
The heritage of Community United Methodist Church really begins on
December 12, 1904, when a Community Sunday School was started in
the little farming village of Wintersburg. The Sunday School was
located in the armory on Wintersburg Avenue, now Warner Avenue,
just east of the railroad tracks. Charles Applebury, seven years
old at the time, was a student in the Sunday School.
In 1905 Worship services were started, and Charles Applebury
recalled that crates were borrowed from a packing plant nearby,
boards were put across them for seats and they were covered with
paper, to make them more comfortable. Because most of the
worshipers were Methodists, they petitioned the Southern
California Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to send a
minister. In December of 1905 Rev. Floyd J. Seamon arrived, having
recently transferred from Kansas. On January 7, 1906, a Quarterly
Conference was held, and five Trustees were elected, including
George Applebury, the father of Charles Applebury. The minutes
read:
"Upon motion the Trustees were authorized to
incorporate."
Authority was also granted for an Official Board to be formed. So
Mr. and Mrs. George Applebury, listed as present at the
organizational meeting, were Charter Members of Community Church.
At the next Quarterly Conference the following resolution was
passed:
Resolved - That the time has fully come for the erection of a M.E.
church in Wintersburg, Cal. And that it is the sense of this body
that we proceed to the erection of the said church at once. Moved
that we refer all questions relative to the securing a site and
building the church to the Official Board. Carried.
Construction was already well underway when the Official Board
minutes of September 18, 1906, reported progress on building and
paying for the church, which still stands today on the southeast
corner of Warner Avenue and Gothard Street.
Building Comm reports subscriptions received toward building M.E.
church $3592.63.
There has been paid on the subscription $2325.08
leaving $1268.55 to be collected.
Also, reports that bills have been paid to the amt. of $2751.20.
And there are bills due $2368.54.
Making a present indebtedness of $1569.99
Total cost of church and lot $5116.74.
Cost of parsonage lot $575.00.
Bal Due on Parsonage $75.00
The church building "was completed before the end of 1906 and
dedicated on March 17, 1907, at which time sufficient money was
pledged to clear the church of indebtedness."
So in just over a year after the organizing of the church on
January 7, 1906, the structure on the comer of Warner Avenue and
Gothard was built and dedicated. It is my sad duty to report, for
those who have not already heard, that Charles Applebury, who was
present when our church was founded and was one of our honored
pioneers, passed away last Sunday. His memorial service was held
on this past Thursday, January 7, exactly 82 years to the day
after the founding of our church. So I have been led to build our
Founder's Day message around the story of his life, and three
other pioneer families.
________________________________
On January 8, 2006, the finale for CUMC's year long celebration of
it's 100th anniversary occurred. Excerpts
published throughout 2005, further describing our heritage, can be
found by clicking on the following link: 100
Years of Community.
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