A GLANCE AT THE GRIDLEY CHURCH HISTORY:  as per told by Mrs. Troy King, September 27, 1982
	
       At this time of the celebration of our church’s 118th year in Gridley, let us pause and look back at the years past and remember some of the memorable events and some of those unforgettable people who worked so faithfully to keep our church active and alive in the Lord’s name from September 27, 1964 to the present time, September 27, 1982.
	Gridley Church was started in Civil War days, noting its’ early beginnings in 1863 in a camp meeting held by Rev. J.H. Mayfield, north of Gridley near what is now the cemetery.  There were about 50 persons converted in this first effort.  Rev. Phillip Boulware, our first pastor held meetings in a tent until a small church building could be built.
	With the coming of the railroad in 1870, the town began.  In 1865 Mr. Garret Keppel, John Hurburt and two other men bought 40 acres and gave the land to the church.  In 1874, under the leadership of Rev. J.L fields, the congregation built the structure which was the first house of worship in Gridley and was known as Upper Live Oak Church.  A parsonage was built where the present Grace Lutheran Church now stands.  The parsonage burned and another parsonage was built here on the site where our present church building stands.  It also burned and in 1942 a new parsonage was purchased at 910 Indiana.  It was sold after our present church and parsonage were built.
	Rev. Francis Fisher, who served as pastor here for 13 years, from 1888 to 1901, established our Durham Church, a church at Bangor, a church at Live Oak, and one at Biggs.  Live Oak church burned and they joined with others and formed a community church.  Bangor Church was also badly damaged by fire and was abandoned.  During this pastorate in 1898, Mrs. Mamie Sala Bollman joined the church by profession of faith.  Many of us remember this good Christian friend and her many efficient abilities.
	According to old records this church has entertained the annual conference three times during its’ existence –in 1872, 1892, and 1926; and Roy Wiser remembered that there was also a conference here sometime between 1911-1914, when Bishop Bell presided.
	Fire destroyed the church building in 1924.  For a time services were held in the old Woodrow Wilson School and later in the old Moose Hall, until a rude structure known as “The Tabernacle” was completed.  This small building had neither floor or seats.  The congregation sat on boards which were placed on boxes.
	In June 1925 we began holding services in the new church, which is now the Grace Lutheran Church.
	It would take too much time to mention all the ministers who served here.  Mention will be made of only a few whose memory is especially dear to some of our members of long standing.
	Rev. Homer Gallaher, who served from 1913-15, took into membership and later married the parents of Verna Gwen Wiser Grimsley, who is still a ver4y active member of this church.  Her parents were Roy and Ruth Wiser.  He also took into membership Gwen’s 2 grandmothers, 2 great-grandmothers, 6 aunts and 6 uncles.  One of her grandmothers, Daisy Vest Johnson, served as church organist for many years.
	Other special memories are of Rev. Howard who served as pastor from 1916-21, Rev. Haller from 1921-26, Rev. Shull from 1926-27, Rev. Dettweiler from, 1927-30, Rev. Waldron served from 1930-31.  It was during his pastorate that Otterbien Guild was organized here.  It was a missionary society for girls.  Mr. Neta Ray Howell was the first president and for many years Mrs. Elta Wheeler gathered the girls for these meetings.
	In the later years, many of us have happy memories of Rev. and Mrs. Everett Johnson, who served from 1948-51.  They were the parents of Mrs. Marjorie Linning, who is still a very active member of our congregation.  During Rev. Johnson’s ministry, we built and moved into our present church here on the corner of Haskell and Wilson Streets.  On July 23, 1950, Bishop Warner conducted a farewell service in the old church, the present Grace Lutheran Church and then the congregation marched to the new building.  The dedication of our present church building was September 17, 1950.
	It is difficult not to go on relating special memories but space does not allow that in this short article.  Needless to say, there are surely many worthy things to remember about all the ministers that served in the years following the ministry of Rev. Everett Johnson:

Rev. Verdun LaChance		1951-1952
Rev. John Hull			1952-1954
Dr. Shively and Dr. Paul Miller	1953
Rev. Harry Flickinger		1954-1956
Rev. A.A. Ehlers		1956-1958
Rev. John Visick		1958-1965
Rev. A. W. Garretson		1965-1966
Rev. Foster Hamilton		1966-1967
Rev. Neal Neuenburg		1967-1971
Rev. Dean Moore and
	Rev. John Hancock	1971-1972
Dr. Wayne Long			1972-1976
Rev. Donald Sager		1976-1980
Rev. Ellen Rowan		1980-1982
Rev. Gary Parsons		1982-1985
Rev. Wesley Osman		1985-1986
Rev. James D. Patterson		1986-1988
Rev. William B. Jefferies	1988-1980 
	As with former ministers, so it is with former members.  Only a few have been mentioned in relating certain events.  So many others come to mind and have been faithful in contributing so much to our church and its activities these past 118 years………………..
	Franklins		Donohos
	Wheelers		Fryes
	Canfields		Wisers
	Maurers			Atchleys
	McKays			Burlesons
	Roots			Bollmans
	Gilstraps		VanDeMarks
	Stenzels		Bonsletts
	Ellsworths		Shifflets
	Sanders			Courtiers
	Mathews		Vannotes

	The list could go on and on.  There are many, many others who are duly recorded in our church’s historical records.  They will never be forgotten.
	Now in the future recording of events in our Gridley Church, there will be many names that will add to our history and our present past, Gary Parsons, his wife Jean, daughter Susan and son Joseph, will certainly be among them.
	The events and people recalled here were taken principally from “A Brief History of Gridley E.U.B. Church” written by Verna Gwen Wiser Grimsley on the 100th anniversary of our church in Gridley.  As she ended her “brief history” so this “glance at the history of our church in Gridley” will close with these words:
	“We trust in God for the future and know He cares for us.”

Respectfully submitted by:
Mrs. Troy King
Church Historian
September 27, 1982