Church of Our Saviour (Placerville, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Episcopal Church of Our Saviour
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 Church of Our Saviour
Location in California
Church of Our Saviour
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2979 Coloma Street, Placerville, California |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1865 |
| Built by | O. Taylor |
| Architect | William Patton |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000291 |
| Added to NRHP | November 17, 1977 |
The Church of Our Saviour is a special old church in Placerville, California. It's known for its unique style called Carpenter Gothic. This means it looks like a fancy stone church but is actually built from wood, with lots of detailed carvings and pointed arches. It's an Episcopal church, which is a type of Christian church.
You can find this historic building at 2979 Coloma Street in Placerville, which is in El Dorado County. Because it's so important, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 17, 1977. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States. The church was designed by an architect named William Patton, who was born in England.
Contents
Building a Community Church
The Church of Our Saviour started during the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. A minister named Rev. Charles Caleb Peirce first gathered people for services on July 20, 1861. They met in the Old Court House in Placerville because they didn't have their own building yet. Rev. Peirce was looking for an older church that was supposed to be there, but he couldn't find any records of it.
Raising Money for a New Building
For a few years, the church community continued to meet in the Court House. But by 1864, they decided it was time to build their own church. The women of the church were very active in raising money. They held a big "faire" (like a festival or market) on the Fourth of July that year. The money they earned from this event was the first donation for the new church building. This was just the beginning of many fundraising events held by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW).
In May 1865, they held another large fair and bazaar that lasted three days. This event was very successful, bringing in $1,200. With this money, they were able to buy the land on Coloma Street where the church stands today. Soon after, construction on the church building began.
The Church's First Days
Rev. Peirce was well-known for being a kind person who always looked for the good in everyone. In June 1865, the local newspaper, The Mountain Democrat, reported that the El Dorado Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons helped lay the first stone of the church. This was an important step in its construction.
Just before Christmas that same year, on December 23, the newspaper announced that the "new, elegant and beautiful Episcopal Church" on Coloma Street would open. Bishop William Ingraham Kip from San Francisco officially dedicated the building on April 15, 1866. The entire church building cost about $10,500 to complete.
The church was designed by William Patton, and a local builder named O. Taylor from Placerville constructed it. Rev. Peirce was a beloved figure in the community. When he passed away on March 14, 1903, schools and businesses in Placerville closed to honor his memory.
Keeping the Church Beautiful
Over the years, the Church of Our Saviour has been cared for and updated many times to keep it in good condition.
Early Renovations
The first major renovation of the church happened in 1927. Later, in 1938, the church building was restored again. This project included fixing the outside of the building, giving it a fresh coat of paint, and putting a new roof on the main part of the church, called the nave. The inside of the church also received many repairs. They added a coal-burning furnace for heat and laid new brickwork at the front. The special wood paneling for the sanctuary (the area around the altar) was designed and installed. In 1957, chimes were given to the church in memory of Father Peirce and others. An aluminum roof was also added around this time.
Modern Updates and Growth
In 1976, a house behind the church was bought and taken down to create a much-needed parking lot. The old house where the minister lived, called the rectory, was also torn down. A new one-story building with classrooms and office space was built in its place.
More improvements were made in 1982. After a storm blew off half of the old tin roof, new shingles were installed. The beautiful stained glass windows were repaired, and three new ones were added. A special hand-carved Corpus (a figure of Jesus on the cross) was hung above the sanctuary.
The Sunday school building built in 1976 became too small as the church community grew. So, a new two-story building was constructed. Money for this project was raised through a special fundraising effort, collecting about $110,000. This new building was finished in 1999. In 2003, a round stained glass window was installed to honor the work of Rev. Canon James Burnett. A columbarium, a place for ashes of the deceased, was added in 2005.
Today, the Church of Our Saviour still stands proudly on a hill overlooking downtown Placerville. It has been a landmark in the area since it was built and is the oldest church building in El Dorado County that has been used continuously. The church and its community celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2011.
See also
