Rockford United Methodist (Episcopal) Church
Rockford, Washington
At 217 So. 1st Street in the center of Rockford, Washington and across from the Pump House, a Methodist Church has sat since 1879. Today called the Rockford United Methodist Church the church building in the photo above is the third church built on the site.
The church congregation originally met in the home of Mrs. Charles Farnsworth. The first church building was to be built in 1880 as a gift from the Farnsworth Lumber Company. This first Rockford Church building was very small and primitive with hand hewed slabs for pews. It was torn down in 1883 and a larger church built on the same site in 1884. (See photo below.)
The 1884 Rockford United Methodist (Episcopal) Church
Note: The parsonage is on the left and the Rockford School in the background.
"The sanctuary Rostrum was carpeted with "Red Ingrain" carpeting... The room was heated with a large wood burning heater near the back of the room. There were two aisles going from the back to the Rostrum, with one wide tier of pews from back to front, and a narrow tier on either side which were fastened to the sides of the structure walls. There was room at the side of the Altar for the Choir to sit and room for a nice organ of the foot pump variety. (Marie Pratt Lee Reference.)"When the Armistice was signed in 1918, the church bells were rung all over the land. It had been thought that our bell had been rung too vigorously, which weakened the tower and the roof structure, which the heavy snow of 1922 proved its undoing and it had to be torn down." (See Reference Marie Pratt Lee.) In 1922 this building was condemned and torn down. The present church, the one in the top photo, was built in 1923. During the demolition and new construction the congregation met in the Presbyterian Church.
The present minister Rev. David Lura is also the past minister. Rev. David Lura served the congregation of the Rockford United Methodist Church 1980 to 1984. Then he was called to serve "on the other side of the mountains". This September, 2010, in his retirement, he has again become the minister of the Rockford United Methodist Church.
The Rockford Community Methodist Church is also presently used as for performances. "August 21st 7pm--Free Piano Concert by recording artist John Nilsen @ Rockford United Methodist Church" (See Link 2.)
Note: For more about Rockford, Washington see blog post September 25, 2010, Saturday Travel Feature, 1916 Pump House, Rockford, Washington.
Thank you: To Rev. David Lura and Ester Hemken for information regarding the Rockford United Methodist Church. To Paul Gillespie for e mailing the reference information and the photo from the Rockford Museum collection.
Demolitions: Of the approximately 1880 church in 1983.
Of the 1984 church in 1922.
Photos: Top photo taken in 2007 by SW.
Bottom photo from the Rockford Museum collection.
References: Historical Sketch of Rockford United Methodist (Episcopal) Church, 1879-1979, One Hundred Years of Methodism in Rockford, Washington. Historical Sketch from the Dedication Bulletin, the Rockford Methodist Episcopal Church, November, 1923, by Marie Pratt Lee.
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