Magalia Community Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Magalia Community Church
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Magalia Community Church (2024)
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Stirling Hwy., Magalia, California |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1904 |
| Built by | Albert Samuel Parsons (original) Carrie Brydon (1904 reconstruction) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002172 |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1982 |
The Magalia Community Church is a special old church found on Stirling Highway in Magalia, California, USA. Building the church started way back in 1850. But it was not finished then, only the floor and four walls were built. The church was finally completed much later, in 1904. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it is a very important historical building.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
Around 1850, a Christian minister named Albert Samuel Parsons came from Cherokee in Butte County. He started building a church in Magalia. We do not know exactly why, but he stopped working on it. He left the church unfinished, with only a foundation, a floor, and four walls. The windows you see today were part of that first incomplete structure.
In 1900, Mr. Parsons moved away from Magalia. People in the town started to lose interest in the unfinished church. The owner of the land, George McLean, wanted the half-built church removed.
A New Beginning for the Church
Then, a woman named Carrie Brydon arrived in Magalia from Canada. She was very keen on helping the community. She saw the unfinished church and was given permission to move it. The church was moved to a new spot near Old Skyway Road and Glover Lane.
Carrie Brydon got help from Annie Bidwell and the local Crew family. Annie Bidwell was a very generous person, known for her work in the community (you can learn more about her at Bidwell Mansion). Together, they raised $600. This money was used to carefully take the church apart and then rebuild it. They made sure it looked just like it was supposed to.
With the money, they also finished the inside of the church. They added a small entrance area called a vestibule. They also built a belfry (a tower for a bell) and a steeple (a tall, pointed roof). A small kitchen was also added. Later, the kitchen area was made part of the main church space. This made room for a pulpit, an organ, and a piano. Annie Bidwell bought the church bell and the organ for $50. The completed church was finally opened on Easter Sunday in 1904.
Moving the Church Around
Over the years, the church building was moved several times. People have different ideas about exactly where it was located. Some say it was once near Whiskey Flat (Paradise East), California. Another possible spot was close to where Coutolenc Road and Old Skyway Road meet. It might also have been in another part of Magalia, between Nimshew Road and the Magalia Reservoir.
The Church's Final Home
In 1993, the small church made its last move. It came to its current location on Stirling Highway in Magalia. The church was officially recognized as a historical site on August 21, 1982. The people of Magalia still help to pay for its care and preservation. Even today, the original church bell rings every Sunday morning. It signals the start of church services, just as it has for many years.
Gallery
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Organ donated by Annie Bidwell
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Magalia Community Church around 1904
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Original church windows
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Original doorknob at the church entrance
