Monterey County CA Archives Photo Place.....Parkfield Baptist Church, Parkfield 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 6, 2006, 11:14 pm

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PARKFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH Parkfield, Monterey County

History and Description:
Parkfield is a small flat area surrounded by soft hills, green valleys, and
silent streams.  The emphasis of nature overcomes the presence of man everywhere.

It was here that in 1913 the Episcopal Church Diocese of Northern California
decided to buy a portion of land to build a representative piece of
architecture. The selected site was owned by Mrs. Still and the cost was $500. 
It's location is in the center of the town at right angles with the town hall,
an older pioneer of the area.  Today, Calunga Road Park runs in front of it. 
Civilian forces moved towards a common goal: the construction of a church.  A
fund raising campaign was organized.  Design, supervision, and labor were
donated and finally on Easter Sunday of 1917, the building was dedicated.  The
responsible designer of the church was a carpenter of the area, Louis Larsen.
Lumber was the only material that had to be bought at a total of $2000.  The
stained glass that covered the side windows was a donation received by Reverend
McGollam. Ihe church never had a resident priest, the services being offered by
commuting priests from San Miguel and Paso Robles.

Through the years the church served different denominations finally being used
as a Baptist Church under Reverend Brown.

Among the different services offered to the community, baptisms and weddings
were the most common.  Sunday school was taught by the women of the community. 
The valuable life of the church came abruptly to an end in June, 1966, when an
earthquake seriously damaged the structure.

The Episcopal Church retained the English type of character combined with the
western frame construction. The plan presents a main rectangular hall where
services were held.  In front of it there is a small room used as a narathex or
main entrance.  In the back of the secondary room, at right angles to the main
one, was a sacristy or vestry.  All walls were covered with redwood lumber. 
Colored stained glass covered the side windows and the opalescent glass was used
in a circular window on top of the portico.

Sources:
Mrs. Ella Adams 
Telegram-Tribune 
Neighbors of Parkfield


Additional Comments:
This is one of three drawings of structures outside San Luis Obispo County

Extracted from

Discovering San Luis Obispo County
by
Carleton M. Winslow


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