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 historic Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church. It is located at 2979 Coloma Street in Placerville, El Dorado County, California. This church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California.
On November 17, 1977, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed as the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour. The church was designed by an architect named William Patton, who was born in England.
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of Our Saviour started on July 20, 1861. This was during the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. The first services were led by Reverend Charles Caleb Peirce. They took place in the Old Court House in Placerville.
Reverend Peirce was looking for a church called "Saint Mary's Episcopal Church." It was supposed to have started in 1857. But he could not find any records of it. So, the new group continued to meet in the Court House.
Building the First Church
In 1864, people decided it was time to build a proper church. The women of the church held a special fair on the Fourth of July. They used the money they earned to start a building fund. This was the first of many fairs held by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW).
More events followed to raise money. In May 1865, a three-day fair and bazaar brought in $1,200. With this money, they bought the land on Coloma Street. Work on the church building began soon after.
The Mountain Democrat newspaper reported on the church's progress. In June 1865, it shared that the El Dorado Lodge of Masons laid the church's cornerstone. On December 23 of the same year, the newspaper announced the opening. It said the "new, elegant and beautiful Episcopal Church" would open that Saturday.
Bishop William Ingraham Kip from San Francisco officially dedicated the building. This happened on April 15, 1866. The completed church cost about $10,500.
Important People
Architect William Patton from San Francisco designed the church. Mr. O. Taylor from Placerville built the church building. Reverend Peirce was known for being a very kind person. People said he "looked for and found good in all people."
Reverend Peirce passed away on March 14, 1903. Schools and businesses in the area closed to honor him.
Changes Over Time
The church has been updated several times over the years. The first big renovation happened in 1927. This work cost $10,000.
In 1938, the church building was restored again. This project cost $4,000. It included fixing the outside of the building. They also added new paint and a new roof for the main part of the church, called the nave. The inside of the church also had many repairs. A coal-burning furnace was put in, and new brickwork was laid at the front. The special wood panels for the sanctuary were designed and installed.
In 1957, chimes were given to the church, also known as the parish. These were in memory of Reverend Peirce. Other additions, like an aluminum roof, were also made.
Modern Updates
In 1976, a house behind the church was bought and taken down. This created a much-needed parking lot. The old house where the priest lived, called the rectory, was also torn down. A new one-story building was built with classrooms and office space.
More improvements were made in 1982. New roof shingles were installed after a storm damaged the old tin roof. This happened during the "Holly Faire" event that year. The beautiful stained glass windows were repaired. Three new stained glass windows were also added. A hand-carved Corpus was hung on the wooden cross above the sanctuary.
The Sunday school building built in 1976 was not big enough. So, a new two-story building was built. People raised about $110,000 for this project, which finished in 1999. In 2003, a round stained glass window was installed. It honored the work of Reverend Canon James Burnett. A columbarium (a place for ashes) was added in 2005.
The Church of Our Saviour sits on a hill overlooking downtown Placerville. It has been an important landmark since it was built. It 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
- National Register of Historic Places listings in El Dorado County, California
- List of Registered Historic Places in California
