Riverside County CA Archives History - Books .....The Churches Of Riverside 1912
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Book Title: History Of Riverside County California

CHAPTER X.
THE CHURCHES OF RIVERSIDE
By E. W. Holmes

   An outline of the church history of Riverside demands recording, although
those looking for details may need to seek them in the records of the different
organizations. There were representatives of different denominations among the
pioneers, but these subordinated their denominational prejudices to secure the
building of a place for worship, and the first religious body in the colony was
organized as the First Church of Christ of Riverside. Its actual members were,
however, of the Congregational faith. Recognizing the commercial value of
churches and schools as an inducement to the more desirable class who might be
seeking a new home, the original colony managers gave the land at the corner of
Sixth and Mulberry streets upon which to erect the first little white church,
with its tiny spire, and also contributed toward the fund for its construction.
For years this Union church provided for the religious needs of the settlers,
and only when the growth of the settlement gave strength to the various
denominations did the work of segregation commence, which in recent years has
given the city thirty or forty branches of the Christian church. Of the seven
original members of this first church, organized in 1872, only one, Miss Nancy
M. Burt, has remained a permanent resident of Riverside. In 1886 the church was
reorganized and incorporated as the First Congregational Church of Riverside. In
the same year the original church building and lot were traded to the Christian
Church people in exchange for the lots at the corner of Seventh and Lemon
streets, where was built in 1887 the larger wooden Congregational church
building which they occupied for twenty-five years. This contained the first
pipe organ used in the city. This structure was torn down in 1912 to give place
to a large and magnificent cathedral-like structure of the Spanish renaissance
style of architecture. This building, with its adjacent parsonage, grounds and
equipment, will have a value of fully $125,000.

   The pastors who have had charge are: Rev. I. W. Atherton, three years; Rev.
F. H. Wales, one year; Rev. W. H. Cross, six years; Rev. George L. Smith, one
year; Rev. T. C. Hunt, eleven years; Rev. Edward F. Goff, eleven years; Rev. J.
H. McLaren, two years; Rev. Horace Porter, three years. Revs. Ralph B. Larkin,
Z. B. Burr, C. J. Hutchins and George Lyman have supplied the pulpit in times of
vacancy.

   First Methodist Episcopal Church. A small class of Methodists was formed in
Riverside as early as 1872, which held occasional services thereafter in the
school house, Rev. W. A. Knighten preaching a monthly sermon before it during
the summer. In 1873 the conference made Riverside a missionary station and
appropriated $300 for its support. A regular church organization was effected
January 10,1874, largely through the efforts of Rev. M. M. Bovard. In 1875 lots
were purchased on the corner of Sixth and Orange streets, where successive
building operations have marked the steady growth of the church in numbers and
wealth, from the time when seven members represented the entire strength of the
denomination to the present day, when the First church alone has a membership of
some 900, and sister churches are required to shelter those who cannot be
accommodated here. The first building erected was a little 24x36 brick chapel,
the material and labor required for its construction being practically all given
by the enthusiastic members and friends. The large and beautiful church, with
all its modern conveniences, which by successive enlargements has become one of
the most attractive in the city, has so incorporated this original building that
its identity is almost lost. The pastors who have occupied the pulpit since the
organization of the church by Dr. Bovard are: Rev. W. J. White, Rev. J. L. Mann,
Rev. F. D. Bovard, Rev. William Dixon, Rev. C. H. Lawton, Rev. M. F. Colburn,
Rev. A. W. Bunker, Rev. C. E. Shelling, Rev. Selah W. Brown, Rev. D. H. Gillan,
Rev. William Sterling, Rev. Dr. W. A. Wright, Rev. Dr. A. C. Williams, Rev. B.
C. Cory, Rev. B. S. Haywood, Rev. E. J. Inwood, Rev. Robert S. Fisher, Rev. Dr.
A. W. Adkinson and Rev. L. D. Van Arnam.

   The First Baptist Church was organized in February, 1874, the charter members
being Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Twogood, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Roe, T. J. Wood, D. A.
Coddington, and Rev. and Mrs. M. V. Wright. Messrs. Twogood and Roe were chosen
the first deacons, and the former continued to hold the position continuously
for some thirty-eight years. Two of the charter members, Mrs. Roe and Mrs.
Wright, are still active members. For several years they had no minister, and
united with the Congregationalists in the Sunday ser vice. From an original
membership of nine the church has grown until in 1912 it has 552 members. The
church finally purchased desirable lots on the corner of Eighth and Lemon
streets and in 1882 built upon these a church of their own at a cost of $6000,
in which they worshipped for some eighteen years. This property was finally sold
for business purposes and the building moved to the corner of Ninth and Lemon
streets, upon which corner in 1909 the old building was replaced by a beautiful
new church, equipped with- everything required by a large and growing
organization. The property is valued at about $50,000. The following is a list
of the pastors, with date of installation: Rev. M. V. Wright, 1874; Rev. M.
Fobes, 1878; Rev. Charles Button, 1880; Rev. Charles Winbigler, 1889; Rev.
George A. Cleveland, 1894; Rev. Dr. W. F. Taylor, 1899; Rev. W. L. Tucker, 1906;
Rev. G. F. Holt, 1907.

   Magnolia Presbyterian Church. The first Presbyterian church was organized
November 9, 1879, with the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Crosby,
Mrs. James H. Benedict, Alice Benedict, Mrs. E. Rudisill, Mr. and Mrs. D. W.
McLeod, Mrs. M. A. Evans and Mrs. M. C. Evans. The first trustees were: S. C.
Evans, J. H. Benedict, A. S. White, C. A. Crosby and H. J. Rudisill.

   Land was purchased at the head of Magnolia avenue and a church erected upon
it in 1880, at a cost of $6,000. The first ministerial supplies were Rev. A. G.
Lane, Rev. J. H. Clark, Rev. Ira M. Condit. Regular pastors: Rev. J. A. Merrill,
Rev. H. B. Gage (1886-1900), and Rev. D. L. Macquarrie (incumbent).

   All Souls' Universalist Church was founded by Rev. Dr. George H. Deere, in
July, 1881. Its services were first held in the Citrus Fair pavilion, and
afterward in a little church extemporized from a discarded school building
located on Market street near Seventh. In 1891 land was bought at the corner of
Seventh and Lemon streets, where the society built the elegant little stone
church and parsonage which it has since occupied. The more conspicuous of the
lay members who aided in the completion of these buildings were Albert S. White,
William Finch, Seneca LaRue, Dr. John Hall, Aberdien Keith, K. D. Shugart and
William P. Russell. There was an original membership of fifteen, which had grown
to 162 in 1912.

The pastors who have served are: Rev. Dr. Deere (thirteen years), Rev. Charles
A. Garst, Rev. Elmer C. Andrus, Rev. Andrew W. Cross, Rev. Herbert E. Benton and
Rev. F. L. Carrier.

   All Saints' Protestant Episcopal Church. Among the earliest of the religious
services held in Riverside was that at which Rev. Charles F. Loup officiated in
June, 1871. In the fall of the year following Bishop Kip visited Riverside and
held a service. From this time services were occasionally held by the Rev. Mr.
Loup and Rev. Mr. Wilson. These meetings were sometimes held in the
Congregational church and for a time in the Sixth street school house. During
these years Riverside was a part of the San Bernardino mission.

   In October, 1884, the mission was formally organized into a parish having the
name of All Saints' Protestant Episcopal Church of Riverside. The first vestry
elected included: Messrs. E. G. Brown, J. D. Brownlee, E. J. Davis, W. A. Hayt,
John Jarvis, W. P. Lett and O. Papineau. Other active members whose names appear
at this period were Dr. A. H. Woodill, B. B. Wright, L. M. Holt and Dr. Jenkins.
The services were evidently irregularly held owing to the difficulty of securing
a permanent pastor.

   In January, 1887, the Rev. B. W. R. Taylor accepted the rectorship and in the
June following the cornerstone of a church was laid on the church lot at Tenth
street, between Orange and Lemon. Soon afterward a rectory was built on the same
property, and in recent years a parish house for the use of the Sunday-school
and other parochial organizations has been added. The clergymen who served the
parish after Mr. Wilson were: Rev. S. Gregory Lines, Rev. C. S. Frankenthall and
Rev. J. D. H. Brown. Rev. Mr. Taylor resigned charge of the parish in August,
1891, and in the following January was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. M.
C. Dotten. The membership at the present time is 250.

   The New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) Church of Riverside was organized May 17,
1885, with thirty members. Rev. Berry Edmiston was its only pastor during the
twenty-seven years of its history, resigning but a short time before his death,
which occurred August 6, 1912. He was a man respected and loved by all who knew
him, and the record of a town for whose moral upbuilding he so faithfully worked
would be incomplete which did not refer to his character as a citizen as well as
to his service as a Christian minister.

This church first held its services in a building on Central avenue, which had
formerly been used for school purposes by the Sunnyside school district. In 1903
a new church edifice was built for their use in a more convenient location, on
Locust street, between Sixth and Seventh. The present membership of the church
is forty.

   The First Christian Church of Riverside was organized October 7, 1885, with
thirty charter members. They first purchased land upon the southwest corner of
Seventh and Lemon streets, but later traded this for the old Congregational
building at Sixth and Vine streets, where they worshipped until 1904. They then
secured land for a new church at the corner of Seventh and Lime streets, and
moving their old building, incorporated it in the fine large edifice in which
they now worship, having a capacity of nearly 800. The church membership has
grown until it numbers 617, and the Sunday school, of which M. D. Haskell is the
superintendent, has an enrollment of 540. The pastors have been: Rev. Irwin
West, Rev. Hiram Conwell, Rev. Cal. Ogborn, Rev. William Sumpter, Rev. M. J.
Ferguson, Rev. A. B. House, Rev. George Ringo and Rev. G. M. Anderson.

   Calvary Presbyterian Church. The inconvenience of attending service at the
Magnolia Avenue Church, three or four miles away, led the increasing number of
Presbyterians located in the "mile square" to organize in June, 1887, the
Calvary Presbyterian Church. Its charter members were: Mrs. Gage (senior), Mr.
and Mrs. Matthew Gage, Miss Margaret Gage, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Mary C. Mann,
Mrs. I. S. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Craft, Miss Margaret Spooner, Robert Gage,
Mrs. Mattie Sears, Mr. and Mrs. D. J. McLeod, Mrs. Kate Hunter, W. J. Wallace,
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Wilbur, Mrs. A. D. Place, John Shiels, Charles Shiels, Miss
Isabelle Ross, Miss Jennie Wright and Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Spence.

   The little congregation at first worshipped in what is now a storeroom in the
Odd Fellows' Building; then for a time in a building north of where the Loring
Block now stands; then in the Citrus Fair pavilion, and finally, while their
church was being built, in the original Y. M. C. A. building in the Glenwood
Block. Rev. Dr. J. B. Stewart supplied the pulpit at this time. The first elders
were Robert Gage and W. J. Wallace.

   Land had meanwhile been purchased at the corner of Ninth and Lime streets,
and here was at last erected the convenient and beautiful building in which they
have since worshipped. The church has now a membership of 590 and is in a
flourishing condition, but at the time when a church alone was being provided
success would have been long deferred had not the effort had the most generous
support of members and friends. Among those whose liberal assistance deserves
especial remembrance are Matthew Gage and Mrs. Gage, the latter presenting the
pipe organ as her share, while W. John Gage lent most valuable aid for years as
leader in the department of music.

   Only five pastors have served during the twenty-five years of the life of the
church, these being Rev. Dr. Stewart, Rev. R. H. Hartley, Rev. W. J. Arnold,
Rev. Alex. Ekin and Rev. Dr. W. A. Hunter.

   St. Francis de Sales Church was at first a mission of the San Bernardino
church, started in 1888 by Rev. Father Stockman, a pioneer priest of California.
The church is located on the city block bounded by Twelfth, Thirteenth, Lime and
Mulberry streets. This block was donated for church, school, convent and
hospital purposes by Mrs. Hattie Traver, a pioneer citizen of .Riverside. The
Catholics believe that there is "no true education without religion," and they
are planning to erect first a parochial school on their property and next a
church building which shall "imposingly represent Catholic endeavor in
Riverside." One hundred and seventy-five English and 450 Spanish-speaking
families are represented in the congregation. The Catholic Indians are cared for
in a mission chapel near Sherman Institute, and the church itself maintains
missions at Crestmore, Casa Blanca and Spanish Town. The resident pastors have
been Rev. J. McCarthy, 1893; Rev. M. Conneally, 1898; Rev. S. F. Cain, 1905; and
the present incumbent is Rev. Peter H. McNellis.

   Trinity English Lutheran Church was organized January 7, 1894, with a
membership of twenty-six, which number has since increased to eighty. It meets
for worship in a pretty building at the corner of Walnut and Ninth streets,
which was completed and dedicated September 5, 1901. The pastors who have had
charge of the parish are: Rev. J. S. Moser, 1893; Rev. George H. Hillerman,
1896; Rev. A. E. Dietz, 1904; and the present incumbent, Rev. R. W. Mottern, 1909.

   Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Eden Church was organized September 28,
1888. It has a present membership of 135. A church building was erected for its
use on the corner of Tenth and Orange streets in 1891, and a parsonage built on
the lot adjoining-some years later. Among the more prominent of its earlier
members were Ernest Carlson, Swan Johnson, Carl Carlson, N. P. Benson, Carl G.
Engborg, William Johnson and Edwin Chelson. The first pastor was Rev. N. G.
Brandelle, and among his successors are Dr. Edward Nelander, Rev. 0. N. Glim,
Rev. K. G. Peel, Rev. A. N. Le Veau, Rev. N. A. Nordstrom, and the present
pastor, Rev. L. M. Dahlsten.

   There is also a mission church of the German Lutherans who meet in the
Adventist church on Twelfth street on the second and fourth Sundays of each
month. Rev. Louis Achenbach is the acting pastor.

   Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. The organization of the Grace Methodist
Episcopal Church of Riverside had its inception at a meeting held October 15,
1907, and its legal incorporation was effected November 19 of the same year. At
the outset it had 189 members on its roll, and its present membership is 393.
Its first Sunday service was held October 4, 1907, in a little mission chapel at
the junction of East Eighth and High streets, owned at the time by the First
Methodist Episcopal Church, and which it subsequently purchased. The lots upon
which the chapel stood had been donated by C. F. Marcy, and another was
subsequently acquired, giving a building site 180x185 feet in area. Plans for
building were promptly arranged, and on December 6, 1908, the present church
building was dedicated, practically free from debt. The church has prospered
under the pastorate of Rev. W. C. Geyer, who has had charge during its entire
history, but who now gives place to the new appointee of the conference, Rev. D.
B. Loofburrow.

   The First United Brethren Church of Riverside was among the earlier churches
organized. It now has a membership of 216, and a church and parsonage located on
East Eighth street, near Park. The church has a seating capacity of 500, and the
whole property a value of about $20,000. Rev. W. H. Blackburn is the present
pastor.

   The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was organized in July, 1889. It built
upon the corner of Sixth and Lemon streets, in 1900, a beautiful church of the
mission style of architecture, at a cost of over $15,000, which was furnished
and dedicated free from debt. The members claim that here was the first place in
Southern California where Christian Science was publicly introduced and classes
instructed in the tenets of the denomination.

   The Second Church of Christ, Scientist, of Riverside, was regularly
incorporated in April, 1893. The first public service was held May 10 in a
dwelling house at No. 560 Seventh street, the reading room being located in the
same building. In January, 1904, Leighton Hall was secured for the services, and
the reading room was removed to the Glenwood Block, corner of Sixth and Orange
streets, in April of the same year. In October, 1905, the Universalist Church
was secured for a place of meeting. In December, 1907, plans were accepted for a
church to be located at the corner of Eleventh and Lemon streets, and in May,
1908, the first services were held in the new church. Since January, 1912, the
reading room has been located in the Glenwood Block on Main street. The church
has had a steady growth from the time of its organization.

   Arlington Methodist Episcopal Church was formed March 22, 1893, by some
thirteen citizens who found the distance to the First Church at Riverside a bar
to regular attendance. A Sunday school had existed for some three years
previous, with Rev. Alfred Ramey as superintendent, C. H. Ormsby, assistant, and
Chester Crosby, secretary. A small church was built in 1907, but the rapid
growth of the congregation made necessary a larger building, and in 1908 land
was purchased on the corner of Magnolia avenue and Castleman street, upon which
a more pretentious edifice was erected. The church now has a membership of 215,
a large Sunday school, and a well-located property worth over $11,000. The
pastors who have served are: Rev. A. Ramey, Rev. E. Hoskyn, Rev. L. D. Loyd,
Rev. C. J. Miller, Rev. W. G. Cowan, Rev. T. D. Ashleigh, Rev. W. C. Dane, Rev.
F. L. Buckwalter, Rev. George Haffin and Rev. A. J. McKenzie.

   Highgrove Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in October, 1890. It had
only six charter members, but now has a membership of 149. The society built a
parsonage in 1891 and a church in 1892, the latter being enlarged in 1904. The
pastors have been Rev. J. C. Gowan, Rev. E. Hoskyn, Rev. C. J. Miller, Rev. E.
W. Pasco, Rev. L. D. Loyd, Rev. F. A. Leak, Rev. S. M. Chase, Rev. W. G. Cowan,
Rev. H. H. Baker, Rev. F. P. Sigler and Rev. S. A. Smith.

   The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1893, with only three
members, but it now has sixty. Its place of worship is at the corner of Tenth
and Sedgwick streets. Its pastors have been Rev. D. E. Jones, Rev. Halford, Rev.
Johnson, Rev. S. E. Arrington, Rev. Kennedy, Rev. J. Holmes, Rev. J. H. Wilson,
Rev. G. W. Bussey, Rev. W. H. Williamson and Rev. S. E. Edwards.

   The Second Baptist Church {African) was organized in 1892, with thirteen
members, and now, 1912, has 135. The ministers who have had charge are Rev. John
Clisby, Rev. Whitlock, Rev. J. W. Newby, Rev. S. H. Smith, Rev. Terrill, Rev. J.
D. Gordon and Rev. F. W. Cooper. Its church is at No. 1162 Howard street.

   The Arlington Christian Church was organized in January, 1905. Previous to
this date the Rev. E. H. Gurley preached many sermons in this section of the
city, and for a time the congregation met in a small frame building. It had at
the outset only twenty-five members, but now has 150 and is one of the most
prosperous of Riverside's churches. In 1912 it completed a handsome church
building, constructed of cement blocks, and its property has a present value of
$13,000. The pastors have been Revs. Cal. Ogburn, W. T. Adams, W. J.
Bottenfield, J. H. Hall, C. R. Moore, and the present incumbent, Rev. S. D.
Perkinson.

   The Free Methodist Church of Riverside was organized in 1907 with twelve
members. It is located at No. 189 East Sixth street. Rev. J. B. Freeland was the
first pastor, and he has been succeeded by Revs. A. C. Brown, S. F. Heilman and
S. O. Yelvington, the last named having occupied the pulpit for three years.

   The United Presbyterian Church was organized on April 12, 1905, and
incorporated in the following November. It had an original membership of
twenty-five, and its members in 1912 number eighty-two. It has a church property
valued at $12,000, located on the corner of Orange and Lemon streets, which was
dedicated in October, 1906. The church has no permanent pastor, but the pulpit
has been supplied by Rev. John M. Ross, D. D., Rev. W. F. Johnson and Rev. J. S.
Coie.

   The Riverside Seventh Day Baptist Church was organized October 3, 1893, with
an original membership of forty. It now has 105 members. The church is located
at the corner of Park avenue and Fifth street. Rev. J. T. Davis was the first
pastor, he being succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. E. F. Loofboro.

   In addition to the above, the religious needs of the city are cared for by
the Seventh Day Adventists, who hold regular sessions in their church on Twelfth
street, Elder Richardson being in charge in 1912. The Primitive Baptists, Elder
A. V. Atkins, pastor, hold a monthly service in the same church. The Holiness
Church meets at the corner of Ninth street and Park avenue, Rev. R. H. Amon,
pastor. The Salvation Army has for years held services at various points in the
city, Ensign Harris being in charge in 1912.

   The Congregationalists maintain a Japanese mission school on Fourteenth
street; the Methodists a Japanese mission on Fifth street, and the Presbyterians
two Spanish missions, one at Casa Blanca, and the other on Fourteenth street,
Rev. Samuel Solomon having been in charge of both for years.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF
Riverside County
CALIFORNIA
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development From
the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
ELMER WALLACE HOLMES
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
1912


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