Geyserville Christian Church History
Geyserville Christian Church Celebrates 125 Years
by Ann Howard, from the Healdsburg Museum Newsletter, March 2010
Used with permission of the author
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - 1884
On November 8, 2009, the Geyserville Christian Church celebrated its 125th anniversary. The original church was organized as the Disciples of Christ on October 18 or 19, 1884, by thirty individuals who felt the need for a community church on which to build a foundation of faith. According to Claire Lampson, a long standing church member, the Disciples of Christ was the first American church, established in the early 1800s.
The building was erected four years later in 1889, and a porch later added on the west entrance where a photograph of the large congregation was taken after the Easter service in 1918.
When the late Louise Bosworth Davis was searching for photographs of Geyserville, she bought the postcard shown above on eBay. How surprising to find written on the back was a message from her grandmother Ida May to a friend in Sycamore, California, in 1920. The postcard indicated that “George had taken the picture.” George, was Louise’s grandfather George Bosworth! In 1921 a new church building was constructed on the same site north of town center, and later, the parsonage was built next door to the south.
The building was erected four years later in 1889, and a porch later added on the west entrance where a photograph of the large congregation was taken after the Easter service in 1918.
When the late Louise Bosworth Davis was searching for photographs of Geyserville, she bought the postcard shown above on eBay. How surprising to find written on the back was a message from her grandmother Ida May to a friend in Sycamore, California, in 1920. The postcard indicated that “George had taken the picture.” George, was Louise’s grandfather George Bosworth! In 1921 a new church building was constructed on the same site north of town center, and later, the parsonage was built next door to the south.
Church Congregation Easter 1918
When the late Louise (Bosworth) Davis was searching for photographs of Geyserville, she bought the postcard shown above on eBay. Written on the back was a message from her grandmother Ida May to a friend in Sycamore, California, in 1920 that “George had taken the picture.” (Louise’s grandfather George Bosworth!)
The 50th and 100th anniversaries were celebrated, and in 1984 Jeri Huntly wrote a poem entitled, “The Friendly Church on Highway 101.” The first verse is included here:
The 50th and 100th anniversaries were celebrated, and in 1984 Jeri Huntly wrote a poem entitled, “The Friendly Church on Highway 101.” The first verse is included here:
New church built on same site in 1920.
There’s a Little Church along a Busy Highway
Call’d the Friendly Church on Hi-way 1-0-1.
Small Town People Gather There to Sing and Offer Pray’r,
And the Pastor Shakes the Hand of Everyone.
You Can Come Just as You Are on Any Sunday.
There’s a Welcome with a Smile for Everyone.
Doesn’t Matter What Your Creed,
When You Leave You’re Wished God-speed,
From the Friendly Church on Highway 1-0-1.
Call’d the Friendly Church on Hi-way 1-0-1.
Small Town People Gather There to Sing and Offer Pray’r,
And the Pastor Shakes the Hand of Everyone.
You Can Come Just as You Are on Any Sunday.
There’s a Welcome with a Smile for Everyone.
Doesn’t Matter What Your Creed,
When You Leave You’re Wished God-speed,
From the Friendly Church on Highway 1-0-1.
Parsonage built in 1921 next to church.
Pastor Hillary Marckx and his wife Cherie, pastor of First Christian Church of Ukiah, just celebrated their 20th year of service to the congregation and the surrounding community. Members of the community and both churches attended the celebration in Geyserville. Hillary and Cherie are firmly established in Geyserville and plan to stay there forever.
Historical Photos from: The Harry Bosworth Collection
Current Photos courtesy of Sharon Pillsbury
Historical Photos from: The Harry Bosworth Collection
Current Photos courtesy of Sharon Pillsbury
