Downey California Area Churches Booklet

Booklet
Downey, California Area Churches

This booklet is a compilation of blog posts from "Churches On Sundays" at http://www.churchesonsundays.blogspot.com of churches in the Downey area. 

Title Page

The Booklet "Downey Area Churches" has been donated to the Downey Historical Society.

Map and Contents

Cover: First Baptist Church
              8348 3rd Street
              Downey, California
              Blog Post-7/21/13

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                                         November 2, 2014

1384 Deep Cove Road

The Bridge 
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"The beginning of our church go back to post World War II when the Mount Pleasant Baptist church in Vancouver first established a Sunday School on the North Shore.  The original chapel at 515 West Windsor Road and Sunday School rooms were constructed in 1955...and Delbrook Baptist Church was established. (REF.) The Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives indicates that a$27,000 permit was issued to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in 1956.

Original 1956 Chapel-2013

The Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives lists a 1962 church addition at Delbrook Baptist church.  This larger building with its distinctive roof shape (seen in the photo at the top) includes the new sanctuary with a large rear balcony and center peaked roof outlined in a circular fan of beams. Windows march around the top of the walls where they meet the ceiling, emphasizing its octagon shape.

1962 Addition The Bridge bought St. Clara-in-the-Cove Anglican Church (See blog post 4/3/11.) in 2014. The church is used for office space as Sunday services continue to be held at Capilano University Centre for the Performing Arts. Sign at 2014 Church

Photos: Taken by Suzanne Wilson.
See Blog Posts 3/17/13 and 4/3/11.

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                                                  May 18, 2014

131 East Kings Rd.

WestCoast Baptist Association

North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

The 1993 District Heritage Inventory, Page 117.  "1915-Secondary List-This plain and modest church is simply detailed in the Craftsman tradition, with triangular eave brackets, exposed rafter end, and pointed verge-boards. Originally the Bethel Methodist Church...the name was soon changed to North Lonsdale Methodist,"  then in 1925  until 1953 North Lonsdale United Church.

According to the Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives In 1954 it became Kingscrest (Kings Road-REF.) Baptist Church in 1954. The Building Permit book also  lists a $950 church repair to Kingcrest Baptist Church at 131 East Kings Rd., Southern Baptist Church. 

"The building is owned by Kings Road Baptist Church (which you referenced when you wrote about Westlynn Baptist Church in 2012), and has been rented out to various churches over the years. The WestCoast Baptist Association (our denomination’s office for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Whistler) is the current tenant and has been here since 2007. 

"A church named One Spirit Mission Church did meet in this building for a few years, as a tenant of Kings Road Baptist Church, ... Also First Baptist Church... rented for many years. (They were not part of the Capilano Southern Baptist Association.) The WestCoast Baptist Association (formerly Capilano Southern Baptist Association) has rented the building since 2007." (REF) 

"We started out as the Capilano Southern Baptist Association (1955-2008).On October 9, 1955, thirty messengers from four Southern Baptist churches in Greater Vancouver met to organize the Capilano Southern Baptist Association. Seventy people attended the meeting at Grace Baptist Church.  The new association voted to assume responsibility for the Baptist Student Union and to take over the publication of The Baptist Horizon begun by Kingcrest church. The first Southern Baptist association had been founded.  Seven "Canadian Southern Baptist" churches across three provinces reported a total of 466 members and had baptized 127 in the year ending September 30, 1955.   A new denomination had begun in Canada. "The name was changed to WestCoast Baptist Association in the annual meeting in October 2008 and WBA was registered as a non-profit society in BC." (Link.) Westlynn Baptist Church (See Blog Post 4/1/12.) is a member of the WestCoast Baptist Association.  It is west of Mountain Highway in North Vancouver District.  The sanctuary/meeting hall has been divided into meeting rooms to meet the needs of the Association. (REF.)

For further information on First Evangelical Baptist Church at 131 East Kings Rd. see Blog Post 3/23/14.

Photo: Taken in 2010 by SW.
Reference: e mail from Janet Campbell, Office Administrator, WestCoast 
               Baptist Association.

Link: http://www.westcoastbaptist.ca/

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.

                                                                                 3/23/14

North Lonsdale United Church, 1915 
131 East Kings Rd.
(REF 1.)

Posthumous
Bethel Methodist Church/North Lonsdale United Church
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

The 1993 District Heritage Inventory, page 117 (REF 3.)-"1915-Secondary List-This plain and modest church is simply detailed in the Craftsman tradition, with triangular eave brackets, exposed rafter end, and pointed verge-boards. Originally the Bethel Methodist Church, which became part of the United Church of Canada, (1925), it has served Baptist congregations since 1953." 

"By 1915 a small church was built on East King Road, first called Bethel Methodist Church but the name was soon changed to North Lonsdale Methodist.

" A Sunday School was with Mr. E.T. Bailey as superintendent. At the time of organic union of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches in 1925, this church became North Lonsdale United, its congregation augmented by those who transferred from St. Stephens Presbyterian. From 1914 to 1919, North Lonsdale was a joint pastoral charge with West Vancouver, from 1919 to 1934, with Lynn Valley, and from 1934 to 1957 with Capilano.

1930 Fire Insurance Map

131 East Kings Road (on south side of street)

"The King’s Road church was bare, with plain wooded chairs for the congregation and a little pump organ. There was a small kitchen at the rear with a stove on which the ladies prepared hearty congregational dinners. This room was used also for meetings, as a Sunday School classroom, and as a dressing-room at Christmas concert time. Until 1948 North Lonsdale Church, received financial assistance from the Board of Home Missions, but from that time it was self-supporting, the minister’s salary and expenses of the manse being shared with Capilano.

"By 1948 it became evident that the little church was no longer adequate, and in 1950 two lots were purchased at the corner of Lonsdale Ave. and Osborne Rd. A building which was to serve eventually as a Christian Education Centre, but was to be used as the church in the meantime, was erected largely by volunteer labour and was dedicated on December 13, 1953." (Link 1.)

1964-131 Kings Rd. became Kingscrest (Kings Road-REF 2.) Baptist Church with renters from First Baptist and One Spirit Mission Church-serving a Korean congregation. (REF.2) and since 2008, the WestCoast Baptist Association.  In 2014 the building was still owned by Kings Road Church.

For more information on WestCoast Baptist Association see Blog Post 5/18/14.
For more information on North Lonsdale United Church see Blog Post 1/23/11.
Link 1: Link 1:http://nluc.org/about-us/history-of-the-church/
Reference 1: The Story of North Lonsdale 1913 to 1990-The Church on the 
                           Hill  is available at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 2: 2014 e mail from Janet Campbell, Office Administrator,  
                          WestCoast Baptist Association.
Reference 3: 1993 District Heritage Inventory, North Vancouver.
Reference 4: 1930 Fire Insurance Map available at North Vancouver Archives.

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                                                   March 9, 2014

870 Lynn Valley Road

Hillside Baptist Church
North Vancouver District, B.C. Canada

"Hillside Church is a member of CBWC.

"The Canadian Baptists of Western Canada are a community of Christ-following churches in Western Canada.  We have a Christ-centred theology that represents moderate Canadian values in an evangelican posture.  Our three-fold purpose is to invite faith, act in mercy and cultivate leaders.  There are 178 Canadian Baptist congregations in all four western provinces, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.  Together, these congregations serve about 100,000 worshippers in churches large and small, urban and rural across Western Canada.  We reach out to our neighbours through missions that meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable in communities, both locally and internationally.  Everywhere, in word and deed, Christ is proclaimed. "(Link 1.)

Sanctuary

"Lynn Valley is a neighbourhood of North Vancouver (District), British Columbia. Located at the northern edge of Metro Vancouver, it is nestled between the forested slopes (hence "Hillside") of Mount Fromme and Mount Seymour." (Link 2.)

"Hillside Baptist Church has been located in Lynn Valley since 1975.  City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives confirm this date. The church was smaller than the one in use today.  The April 26, 1989 Lynn Valley Echo states "Currently, Sunday School meets in a trailer on their lot and in the basement of a neighbor's house." (REF.)

Sanctuary with Baptism Font to right of steps

An addition to the church was built in 1989. "The church, which is planning a 6,000 square foot expansion, will have on hand a set of building plans and a model of the new building.......the new structure will include a new sanctuary, offices and classroom space... the construction costs will tally up to $460,000... A sod turning ceremony and open house are being held on Sunday, April 23, 1989." (REF.)

Balcony

The Sanctuary also has a balcony.  The pews in the balcony (See photo.) were purchased from a church in Vancouver.  However, there are two pews in the church that were brought from the original church on Keith Rd.

Pews in Balcony

Fireside Room

Triptych at North Entrance
Romans 5:3

Thank you: To Pauline Sanderson for information regarding the Keith Rd and
                         Lynn Valley Rd. churches and to Melanie and Nick for their help.
Photos: Taken in December 2013 by SW and January 2014 by LW.
Reference: Lynn Valley Echo, "Church News, Hillside Baptist Expands, 
                         Celebrate sod-turning," April 16, 1898.
Link 1: http://hillsidebaptist.ca/
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Valley

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.

                                                                                                                         February 9, 2014

139 East Lower Keith Rd.

(Architectural Drawing 1946)

Posthumous
Hillside Baptist Church
City of North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"The City of North Vancouver is separated from Vancouver by the Burrard Inlet. It is surrounded on three sides by the District of North Vancouver."  and is located on the slope of Fromme Mountain.  (Link 1.)  Keith Road is the street on the lower side of Victoria Park which crosses Lonsdale Ave., the main commercial street in the City of North Vancouver.  Keith Road is, therefore, on the slope, hence "Hillside", of Fromme Mountain.

Although the architectural drawing are dated 1946 and 1949, the City Directory at the North Vancouver Archives has no listing of 139 East Keith Road until 1950.  Listing then continue for Hillside Baptist at this address until 1973.

Main Floor and Sanctuary

(Architectural Drawing 1949)

When the Keith Rd. church closed  the communion table and two pews were moved to the new church on 870 Lynn Valley Rd.

Pew original to Keith Rd. Hillside Church

"This do in Remembrance of Me"

Communion Table original to Keith Rd. Hillside Church

For more information on Hillside Baptist Church see Blog Post 2/9/14.


Thank you: To Pauline Sanderson, wh0 attended this church  on Keith Road
                         when she was seven years old.
Photos: Taken of Architectural Drawings at the North Vancouver Archives in 
                 January 2014 by SW.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Vancouver_(city)

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.

Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship
San Diego Harbor

Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship, Sunday Worship
September 22 to October 7, 2013
Panama Canal
San Diego, California to Fort Lauderdale Florida

The Policy of the September 22, 2013 Panama Cruise sailing of the Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship was not to have a designated Chapel/Meditation Room. The Policy was not to hold any type of worship service at all.  However, when the Reverend Pastor Rankin from Nova Scotia persisted and offered to lead the service, a room was made available for 1/2 hour on Sunday morning for an interdenominational service.  That room was the Cosmos Lounge.

Cosmos Lounge of Celebrity Millennium

Sunday Worship Service Conducted by

Pastor Rankin

The Cosmos Lounge was on deck 11 at the rear of the ship.  At night it featured, a dance band, large dance floor, and lots of revilers.  But on the two Sunday mornings with the Reverend Pastor Rankin in charge and about 70 passengers who came to worship it became a reverent  space. And for those Sunday mornings  even the room echoed the reverence. 

At the entrance to Cosmos Lounge a large colorful 1979 LOVE statue welcomed the worshipers.  To them it announced "God's love".  The multi blue toned wave patterned carpet of the lounge reminded them of the Sea of Galilee.  And looking out the back widows of the lounge the mast on the ship's stern looked like the Cross.

1979 LOVE Sculpture

Carpet of Cosmos Lounge

Mast on Stern of  Cruise Ship

On the first Sunday of the cruise the theme of the sermon by Pastor Rankin was "The Gift of God is Eternal Life".  And if you look closely at the left hand pillar in the photo of Pastor Rankin preaching in the Cosmos Lounge, you can see a reflection that looks like a candle, a symbol of eternal life.

On the second Sunday of the cruise the theme was the "23rd Psalm" and Pastor Rankin made referenced to the sheep in New Zealand, where there are 4 of them for every person.  Pastor Rankin was ordained as a Baptist minster in 1958.  He has served as a Presbyterian minister for 55 years.

Thank you: To Pastor Rankin for arranging for leading us in worship the two Sundays of the Celebrity Millennium Panama Canal Cruise.
Photos: Taken September and October, 2013 by SW.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(sculpture)

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen
(SW)

                                                                                                                                 July 21, 2013

8348 3rd Street

First Baptist Church
Downey, California

"First Baptist Church of Downey is a Bible-believing, Bible preaching church committed to living out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and the Great Commandments (Mark 12:29-31) by making disciples who love the Lord with all their heart, all their soul, all their mind and all their strength.  We are just one part of the family of God, the church universal.  But here at First Baptist Church of Downey, we desire to build relationships with one another that are centered on the Bible and Jesus Christ." (Link 1.)

The first Baptist Church in Downey  was built in 1876.  This simple rectangular sanctuary with an entrance below a single peaked steeple was moved to Knott's Berry Farm in 1955 where it is used for wedding ceremonies.

1876 Church on church site

1876 Church at Knott's Berry Farm (1955 Photo) The Church was constructed in 1876 and built of Redwood. It was the first used as a house of worship by the First Baptist Church of Downey California. In 1922 the building was acquired by Saint Marks Episcopal Congregation and used until 1953. The Church was destined to be demolished when it was acquired by Walter Knott in 1955. The Church was torn down and reconstructed at Knott's Berry Farm and renamed the "Church of Reflections" Many of the Churches original fixtures were preserved. The Church was located in Knott's Theme Park from 1955 to 2004. It was relocated (See Link 4.) to it's present address where numerous weddings take place every year. (Link 2.)

The second Baptist Church of Downey was constructed in 1955 and used for only ten years.

1955 Church Building

In 1965 the sanctuary/worship center building that is used today was built. (See top photo.)  A mosaic figure of Christ with the inscription  "Come Unto Me and Learn" is above the front doors of the building.  To the right of the entrance is a tall cross and a tablet of the ten commandments. (See photo below.) The corner stone and a heritage plaque are on the right corner of the building.

Ten Commandments

Corner Stone and Heritage Plaque

Deep tones of colored stained glass are used at the entrance and throughout the church narthex and sanctuary/worship center. Yellow glass crosses randomly run along the low wall at the entrance to the narthex.  A green glass cross is above the center doors.  The life sized statue of Christ washing the feet of one of the disciples sits in the corner of the narthex.

Entrance from  inside the Narthex

Narthex Statue

John 13:05 "Then he poured water into a basin 

and began to wash the disciples' feet,..."

The tall center cross of the sanctuary/worship center reredo is flanked by the banners "Make disciples for Jesus and Love one another" and "Give glory to God and enjoy him forever", floor to ceiling screens, and banks of organ pipes.  The chancel is filled with a stepped choir stand. At Christmas this has been used to present a "Living Christmas Tree".

Sanctuary

Along the sides of the sanctuary/worship center are floor to ceiling pillars and two story rectangles of vivid stained glass windows.  Through the clear glass windows below, are a garden walk and a wall dotted with squares of colored glass. The balcony across the back of the sanctuary/worship center repeats the square design on its back wall.

Sanctuary/Worship Center Side Windows

Sanctuary/Worship Center Balcony

The First Baptist Church of Downey campus is a rectangle with a plaza in the center.  The sanctuary/worship center forms the anchor on the right.  A covered walkway is across the front row of offices and meeting rooms.  A colonnade stretches across the back of the rectangle.  Stamps Center is the left hand border.  And forward from Stamps Center is the Chapel with a cross, rounded exterior corners, and the double front doors with two half circle windows.

Chapel

Separate Sunday worship services are held in both English and Spanish.

Sunday, September 29, 2013 the First Baptist church of Downey will be celebrating its 145th anniversary.  Congratulations!

Thank you: To congregation member Katheryn Tritz for a tour of the church

              and to Debbie Fox for information about the 145th anniversary.

Note: Suzanne and Alan Wilson attended the wedding of Betty and  Hal 

Lowen inthe original 1876 Church Building at Knott's Berry Farm.

Photos: Colored photos taken in June 2013 by SW.
(Link 1:) http://www.fbcdowney.org
Link 2: http://www.knottschapel.com/history/index.htm
Link 3: http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/article.do;jsessionid=BAE0372334F99F8F9E17C3135A609DD5?id=17000076
Link 4: http://www.knottschapel.com/info/index.htm

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen
(SW)

                                                                                                      November 25, 2012

1910 Fire Insurance Map

Posthumous
Baptist Church-1908
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

The Baptist Church was the fourth church to be built in North Vancouver.
First was St. Paul's Catholic Church on Native Lands in 1886.  Next was St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church (See Blog Post September 9, 2012.) on West 13th Street in 1900.  Then St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (See Blog Post November 18, 2012.) on East Keith Road in 1904. And in December 1908 the Baptist Church on east 5th Street. (REF 1 page 16.) 

By this time, 1908, North Vancouver had a newspaper, The Express-1906, gas street lighting-1905, and a street car-1905. (REF 1.)

The 1910 Fire Insurance Map (pictured above) shows the exact location as north side of East Fifth Street (#2) and west of St. George's Avenue.  This is just two blocks south of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

The 1909 and 1910 City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives lists the address as " 5th and corner St. Georges.  The pastor for these years is noted as being Rev. David Long. In 1911, the last listing, the address in the City Directory is the same listing and the pastor was the Rev. C. Blunden.  The diagram shows that the the church was "13' to the eaves".  

In 1912 the Baptist church is listed as being at the "sw corner 12th & St. Georges". (See Blog Post October 28, 2012.) 



Reference 1: Wm. Stott, The Early Story of North Vancouver,

               and Art" notes, 2nd series, vol.1; 2 March 1950.
Reference 2: 1910 Fire Insurance Map of North Vancouver, North Vancouver
               Archives.
Note: Blog Post of the Baptist Church at East 12th Street is at 1/28/12.

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

                                                                                                                   October 28, 2012

161 East 12th Street
South West Corner of East 12th Street and St. Georges Avenue

Built in 1912

Posthumous
First Baptist Church
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

The Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives lists the Baptist Church at 161 East 12th Street as being applied for in 1912.  That the church was on the south west corner of East 12th Street and St. Georges Avenue in the City of North Vancouver is confirmed by its listing in the 1912 City Directory.  By 1925 the City Directory refers to the church as "First Baptist Church" and its address as 161 East 12th Street.

Fire Insurance Map 1930
(Church in solid blue)

This 1912 clapboard church had front and side gabled roofs with knee braces.  It had an upper and lower floor and a basement. The front entrance to the church faced East 12th Street. (See top photo.)  

The 1930 Fire Insurance Map outlines its shape and position on the corner. It also mentions its height to the eaves and being 25 feet. (It also lists the address as 165.)

Renovation Plans

The June 1940 Proposed Renovation Plans by Mercer and Mercer Architects, the Birks Building, Vancouver show four views of the changes to the First Baptist Church at 161 East 12th Street.  The photo below shows the renovations completed.  The 1965 Fire Insurance Map describes the siding as "rough cast stucco". (It also lists the address as 172.)

Entrance East 12th Street
(Photo taken in 1967)

St. Georges Avenue Side

(Photo taken in 1967)

The firm of Mercer and Mercer Architects also designed Shaughnessy Hospital in 1940,  (Link 1.)  additions to John Oliver School in 1950 and 1954, (Link 2.)  and The Waldorf Hotel in 1947, (Link 3.) all in Vancouver. 

The final listing  in the City Directory at the North Vancouver Archives for the First Baptist Church at 161 East 12th Street is in 1967.  A note accompanying the 1967 photos of the church (above) states the date at June 1967 and that the church is "ready for demolition".

1965 Fire Insurance Map

(Church in solid pink)

Note:For more information on the site at
           161 East 12th Street,see Blog Demolition Mama at

           http://www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com "104 Fires in the City" 

           Thursday, 1/7/2010 .

Photos: Copied and photo shopped from files at the North Vancouver Archives,
           photos and Fire Insurance Maps 1930 and 1965.
Link 1. http://www.heritagevancouver.org/topten/2009/topten2009_08.html
Link 2. http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=10626
Link 3: http://www.waldorfhotel.com/2010/09/the-waldorf-is-back/

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen