Rockville Stone Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockville Stone Chapel |
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The Rockville Stone Chapel in 2019
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| General information | |
| Location | Rockville Cemetery, Suisun Valley Rd, 0.2 mi N of Rockville |
| Town or city | Rockville, Solano County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°14′51″N 122°07′18″W / 38.24746°N 122.12176°W |
| Designations | Registered as California Historical Landmark #779, Nov. 20, 1962 |
The Rockville Stone Chapel is a historic church in Rockville, California. It was built in the fall of 1856 and opened for Christmas services that same year. The chapel was officially dedicated in February 1857.
Over time, the church faced challenges. A disagreement over slavery caused some members to leave in 1863. Attendance slowly dropped, and the last full-time pastor left in 1895. The building started to fall apart. In 1929, it was given to Solano County.
Because of the Great Depression, repairs didn't start right away. But in 1940, the WPA helped fix it up completely. In 1962, the chapel became a California State Historical Landmark. Today, it is still used by a local church and hosts weddings and funerals.
Contents
How the Chapel Started
In the early 1850s, the Suisun Valley was a popular spot for "camp meetings." These were outdoor religious gatherings held by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Families would camp out for up to two weeks, sometimes even bringing their cows for fresh milk!
At a meeting in 1855, Reverend Bailey suggested building a permanent church. People raised $5,000 to help. A local resident named Landy Alford donated the land for the chapel and a nearby cemetery.
Landy Alford and his family came to California in 1846. They were part of a large group of travelers, which also included the famous Donner Party. Alford's son-in-law, Nathan Barbour, even helped rescue the survivors of the Donner Party. Both Alford and Barbour also took part in the Bear Flag Revolt, an important event in California's history.
Building the Chapel
Construction of the chapel began in the fall of 1856. The stone used for the building came from nearby hills. This stone was special: it was soft and easy to cut when first taken out, but it became hard after being exposed to air.
Most of the workers were volunteers. They were led by skilled stonemasons named Joel Price and George Whitely.
The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on October 3, 1856. Reverend Sylvester Woodbridge led this ceremony. The building was finished quickly enough for Christmas services to be held there. The chapel was officially dedicated in February 1857. Reverend Bailey was the first pastor.
Challenges and Repairs
Soon after the chapel was built, its members disagreed about slavery. At the Christmas Eve service in 1863, the members who supported the Northern side left the church. The remaining members, who supported the Southern side, put a plaque on the chapel. It is still there today and says: "M.D. Church South - 1858".
After the American Civil War ended, fewer people attended the chapel. The last full-time minister, Reverend B. J. Waugh, left in 1895. Services continued sometimes, but not regularly.
Over time, the building started to fall apart. Its windows broke, and the roof leaked. Rain got inside, causing the floors to rot. At one funeral, the service had to be held outside. This was because people were worried the chapel might collapse from aftershocks of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.
Bringing the Chapel Back to Life
In 1929, the chapel was given to Solano County. It was meant to be a memorial to the pioneers who settled the area. There were rules for the county: they had to keep the chapel in good condition, only use it for religious purposes, and keep the 1863 plaque. If any rule was broken, the chapel would go back to the church.
The Great Depression started that same year, so no repair work happened until 1940. Local residents like Rose Lee Baldwin and Dave Weir helped get things moving. They convinced Congressman Frank S. Buck to ask the WPA to take on the project.
Workers from a state camp helped with the repairs. They put on a new roof and removed the old low ceiling. The walls were replastered, and new stained glass windows were installed. A new floor was also put in. The 22 original wooden benches, called pews, were fixed up at a place called the Hale Fruit Shed.
The chapel was rededicated on Memorial Day in 1940. The Reverend C. C. Black, the last surviving minister who had preached there, led the ceremony. In 1962, the Solano Historical Society worked to get the chapel recognized by the state. It was listed as State Historical Landmark #779 in October of that year.
The Chapel Today
The Rockville Stone Chapel is still actively used today. As of 2019, it serves as the main worship place for the local Church of Christ. It also hosts weddings and funerals.
Around 2007, the Suisun Fairfield Rockville Cemetery District, which now owns the chapel, did more renovations. The windows were replaced again. The floor was sanded and made shiny. The old pews were replaced with slightly larger ones. This was because people today are generally taller than people were 150 years ago!
There are two special plaques outside the chapel. One is the official State Historical Landmark plaque. It tells about the chapel's history, including when it was built and restored. The other plaque was placed by the WPA after their restoration in 1940.
A local person once described the chapel beautifully: "A tiny rock-walled church among great brooding trees that spread green arms around it and raise still heads above it as though in wordless prayer.”
See also
