”
Sesquicentennial
”
is a word we don’t get to use very often. It means the
completion of a period of a century and a half. On Aug. 24, the
people of the Gilroy United Methodist Church invite South County
residents to their sesquicentennial celebration marking 150 years
of service to the community.
“Sesquicentennial” is a word we don’t get to use very often. It means the completion of a period of a century and a half. On Aug. 24, the people of the Gilroy United Methodist Church invite South County residents to their sesquicentennial celebration marking 150 years of service to the community.
All events will be held at the church, located at 7600 Church St., and the morning will be full of informative and enjoyable activities.
At 9 a.m. there will be a free continental breakfast in Wesley Hall. Available for viewing will be a display developed by the Rev. Charles Krahenbuhl, the church’s historian (and also former pastor), which includes photos from the past, historical documents in the elaborate handwriting of the period, square nails as used in the original construction, and Communion Silver. There will also be games from earlier eras on loan from the Gilroy Museum for children to try playing.
At 10 a.m. visitors are invited to a worship service in the sanctuary which will feature music from the mid-19th century. Civic denominational dignitaries and former pastors will be introduced.
At 11 a.m. everyone is invited to a potluck barbecue on the church grounds. The meat will be provided; guests are asked to bring a salad or dessert to share. Activities available include pony rides, a jump house, candle-making and balloon sculpture.
Methodism has had an interesting history in Gilroy (originally known as “Pleasant Valley”):
In 1852 an itinerant preacher from the “Methodist Episcopal Church South” came to town and held the first Protestant worship service. In those days, before the U.S. Civil War, many denominations had rival northern/southern organizations. The congregation grew and built its first church by 1856, which was later to become Gilroy’s first public high school. By 1872 it had built a larger church at the corner of Fourth and Church Streets across from the present location.
Meanwhile, the northern branch of Methodism opened a Pleasant Valley mission station in 1857 and erected its first church in 1859, followed by a larger building in 1872 on the church’s present site. Thus Gilroy’s two Methodist churches stood across the street from one another.
In 1917, long before the parent northern-southern Methodist denominations, the two Gilroy churches united into one. Symbolically and practically, the building belonging to the Southern Denomination was moved across the street and physically joined to the other building, taking up most of that city block.
1938 saw a tragic fire when the church’s boiler exploded and completely destroyed the structure. In what seems today like a marvel of speed, the present Gilroy United Methodist Church building was erected on the same site in less than seven months after the fire.
The slogan for the sesquicentennial celebration is “Looking Backward with Gratitude – Forward with Faith.” The congregation is looking back at the many ways it has served the community: teams providing food and staffing for the homeless shelter at the National Guard Armory each winter, an extensive series of English as a Second Language classes, years of hosting the local Head Start , participating in St. Joseph’s Family Center. Although relatively few in numbers, GUMC has been called Gilroy’s most socially active group “per capita.”
“Gilroy United Methodist Church celebrates 150 years as an active part of the Gilroy community,” Pastor Alison Berry said. “Much has changed during this time, but one thing has been constant: The relationship between the local church and the city of Gilroy has been a mutually beneficial one. An essential element of our celebration of 150 years here is a deep sense of gratitude to this city for all the ways in which it has been a grace to us.”
All South Country residents are invited to join in this festiveoccasion, especially people who have belonged to or were baptized or married in the church. For more information call 842-6114.
