2001:  OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL YEAR!

REFLECTING ON THE PAST; REJOICING IN THE FUTURE. August, 2001 First Christian Church celebrated its 150th Anniversary with a week long celebration in a large revival tent next to the sanctuary.

Pictured here are Bill and Frances Fleming, two long standing members. They were among those who were honored at the Sesquicentennial Celebration for their long time participation in the church.


A BRIEF HISTORY OF FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Thanks for Kathy Wilson for compiling this brief history of the church from several sources.)

First Christian Church is the oldest Disciples Congregation west of the Rocky Mountains, being established nearly 150 years ago. The discovery of gold started the first great migration to California, in the days of 1849. A multitude of people from every walk of life came by prairie schooner, horseback, and on foot.

The Christians among this group were the ones who organized the first protestant churches of Stockton in the early 1850’s . A group of Disciples of Christ from Missouri came into this community in 1849, some taking up farming and stock raising, some stopping in Stockton, a thriving town of tents and a few wooden buildings.

W.W. Stevenson, a scholar, a writer and a good speaker came to Stockton from Arkansas in ‘49 seeking a place to regain his health. He was a Disciple, well-informed on New Testament teachings. These Disciples soon became acquainted in this small community, meeting together for Christian fellowship in a small house on the corner of San Joaquin and Weber Streets in 1849 and ‘50.

Thomas Thompson, a preacher from Kentucky, with his family, arrived in California in ‘49 by prairie schooner, stopping at Gold Run in Placer County. Moving to Coloma on the American River where the gold was first discovered, in 1850, he operated a hotel for miners and preached to the people. In the winter of ‘50, Thompson moved his family down to Santa Clara, buying a piece of ground on the edge of this small town. 

The spring of 1851 found Thompson on his way back to Coloma to look after his property. Late in the summer, he visited different places on his way back to Santa Clara. Stopping in Stockton, he inquired about the Disciples of Christ, and visited them in their homes. Believing in Church organization and evangelism, he urged them to organize a church. On August 24, 1851 they were called together in a small house on the corner of San Joaquin and Weber Streets. The location was the home of J. D. Green. 

Thus began the official organization of the First Christian Church of Stockton. The church celebrated its 150th Birthday on August 24, 2001. We are the oldest Disciple Church west of the Rocky Mountains. We are currently located at 1234 William Moss Boulevard in Weston Ranch, located in Stockton, California. First Christian Church serves the metropolitan area of Stockton, as well as the surrounding communities of Lathrop, Manteca and Tracy. We are an Open and Affirming Church. By that, we mean that we are a church accepting all people regardless of ethnic or racial background, sexual orientation, or political or economic status. We are a church of “all people, for all people.” We have a Children’s Discovery Center for the children of the community. It has proven very worthwhile and right now we are operating at full capacity, with a waiting list.

The church is now in its 6th physical location since its inception. The places of worship are as follows:

The first home was donated by J. D. Green on August 2, 1852. It was located on North San Joaquin Street where the Union Safe Deposit Bank now stands. Some of the early ministers of our church are listed in their approximate sequence:

1856-1859 Thomas Thompson, J.P. McCorkle, Bro. White and Bro. Floyd
1859-1862 Dr. T. J. Downing
1862-1882 Benjamin Carter, J. D. Pendergast and H. D. Connell
1882-1892 L. B. Wilke and Peter Calvin
1892-1894 No Record
1894-1895 H. J. McCollough
1895-1897 W. H. Briggs
1897-1898 Robert McHatton and Peter Calvin
1898-1904 Thomas Boyer
1904-1915 C. W. Jopson, W. F. Daniels, J.K. Ballou and GeorgeW. Lobdell
1915-1919 E. V. Stivers

The charter members of the church are as follows:

Thomas Maxwell, Silas Hitchcock, Isaac Hitchcock, Joshua Hitchcock, J.W. Smith, J. D. Green, Mahala Smith, Frances Maxwell, Margaret Hitchcock, Louise Perkins, Jane Gard, S.M. McLain, J. W. Glasford, John Woodrome, W. W. Stevenson, John Crawford, Ellen McLain, Lucy Whiton, Lucy Ann Rife, Lidian Green and Mahala Gard.

The second property was purchased on September 9, 1860. It was located near the North East corner of Hunter and Lindsay Streets, and was held until 1872. The third property was purchased in 1872 and was located on the corner of North Sutter Street. The fourth property was located on the Southwest corner of California and Lindsay Streets. It was erected under the ministry of Thomas A. Boyer in 1899 and was in continuous use until November 30, 1924.

The fifth and longest duration was the property located at Sutter and Lindsay Streets. It was purchased on January 2, 1924 and the cornerstone of the church was laid on March 30, 1924 with completion of the magnificent edifice for dedication on November 30, 1924. This church was built during the tenure of Shirley R. Shaw and saw the service of many ministers of our congregation as it served as our place of worship from November 30, 1924 until May 1985 when the church was sold due to its changing congregation and the size of the building was much too large and expensive to maintain. It was put up for sale and was sold in a very short time. The ministers who served during this time were as follows:

1919 - 1926 Shirley R. Shaw 
1926 - Jan 1929 J. H. MacCartney
1929 - 1945 Dr. Benjamin Smith
1945 - Jul 1950 Theodore R. Leen
1950 -1956 Marvin E. Smith
1956 -1962 Leon C. England
1962 -1968 Karl Irvin
1968 -1972 James Burford
1972 -1973 Interim Robert Lemon
1974 -1977 Earl Van Slyck
1977 - 1979 Paul Davidson
1979 - Jan 1986 Frances Shorrock 

We moved from this location after our last service on May 31, 1985. We rented worship space from the First Congregational Church where we worshipped until we purchased the property at 1421 North Hunter Street. Ronald L. Frazier became our minister in July 1986. He was involved during the renovation of Hunter Street and it was used until we decided to change our mission from inner city to a new and evolving location
where no church served the area. In the spring of 1991 a new site was identified in the Weston Ranch development on the southwest side near Interstate 5, where we are now located. 

We moved to the new location in 1993 and had a dedication service on October 10, 1993. The ministers who have served at this location are:

1986 -1994 Ronald L. Frazier
1995 - Oct 1999 Steven Kindle
Jan 2000 - Jan 2002 Dr. Steven Shepard, Interim
Jan 2002 - Jun 2004 Michael Malone
Mar 2004 - Sep 2004 Vaughn Beckman “Acting Pastor”
Oct 2005 - July 2006 Stan Hickman
Currently Steven Kindle “Assisting Pastor”