Alameda County, Oakland, California
The First Congregational Church of Oakland
The First Congregational Church of Oakland -- Was formally organized December 9, 1860, with a membership of seventeen persons. Its first place of worship was the Baptist church, then situated on the corner of Fifth and Jefferson Streets. Afterwards for a few months its services were held in a building called "The Pavilion," on the Plaza, Broadway, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, the site of the present County Court House.
Rev. George Pierson, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, commenced the first Sabbath service of the church in November, 1860, and continued to supply the pulpit once each day till the arrival of the chosen pastor. This was Rev. George Mooar, who came from Andover, Massachusetts, arriving in Oakland May 6, 1861, and beginning his services with the church on the Sunday following, May I2th. He was formally installed as pastor August 3Oth, of the same year.
Having been elected to a professorship in the Pacific Theological Seminary, Rev. Mr. Mooar resigned his charge, and left the pastorate August 4, 1870, nine years from his installation. He continued to supply his pulpit and act as pastor, however, for nearly two years longer.
The present pastor, Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D., came from Springfield, Illinois, on April 24, 1872, and was installed in the following June.
In September, i86i, the church purchased the block bounded by Broadway, Washington, Tenth, and Eleventh Streets, for the sum of one thousand four hundred dollars. Upon this a church building was immediately erected, and occupied for religious worship in June, 1862. It was enlarged in 1867; in 1868 a chapel was added. In 1871; the half of the block fronting on Broadway was sold for sixty-five thousand dollars the church building was removed to the corner of Washington and Tenth. In the following April the church was again enlarged. In April, 1878, work was begun upon the present house of worship, corner of Central Avenue and Clay Street. The cornerstone was laid May 21st, and the building formally dedicated January 21, 1879,
The cost of the present structure, with ground and furnishing, was in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand dollars. It contains sittings for fourteen hundred persons. Its auditorium is undoubtedly the most complete on the Pacific Coast.
The church has received since its formation one thousand two hundred and forty-three members, of whom seven hundred and sixty are members at the present time. It has raised for church construction and current expenses down to September, 1882, the sum of two hundred and ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and fifty-three dollars and seventeen cents; and for charitable purposes fifty-six thousand five hundred and nine dollars and fifty-five cents, a total of three hundred and fifty-six thousand two hundred and sixty-two dollars and seventy-two cents. Four other Congregational churches have, since the organization of this church, been formed within the territory it originally held, to all of which it has made liberal contributions, both of members and of funds.
A Sunday-school of eight hundred and fifty members is connected with the church; also a branch Sunday-school of nearly four hundred members, meeting on Market Street, corner of Twenty-second. The church has, from time to time, sustained other branch schools, which have either grown into churches, or been merged into other schools.
Alameda County, California,
Including Its
Geology, Topography, Soil and Productions
Oakland.: M.W. Wood Publisher, 1883
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, November, 2007 Pages 728-729
Archive Church Records ~ Archive Index
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