Placer County's oldest church to remember its roots Sunday

By Erin Gallup-Main, Journal Staff WriterThe culmination of the 150th anniversary of Placer County?s oldest church is scheduled at the Pioneer United Methodist Church in Auburn Sunday.The current 450-member congregation grew from a small group that met outdoors on a hill in 1851, said Sue Hill, a 150th anniversary chairwoman and Placer County Museum docent.?At that time there was no church in Auburn, no Catholic church and no Protestant,? Hill said. The four-year church member said Harriet Crandall raised money for the first church, which was built on Sacramento Street in Old Town Auburn in 1852. Rowdy business neighbors and a fire scared the congregation out in 1855 and the group again raised money to build the first Lincoln Way structure.?Crandall?s husband bought the lot for $50 and they raised enough money to build the present church, which was remodeled in 1997,? she said.A sidewall, the bell tower and the large stained glass window installed in 1908, are still intact. The building was remodeled to fit the growth of the congregation.?We?ve got a brand-new sanctuary and we?ve got new faces coming every Sunday,? said Pastor David Moss. ?Our hospitality is one of our trademarks. We try to make people feel welcome here.?Placer County Supervisor Harriet White and Auburn Mayor Jodie Hale will give proclamations to the historical church.?Most of us have been to a wedding, funeral or some event there,? Hale said. ?They?ll be having a 150th anniversary commemorative service and receive proclamations, music, a special sermon and prayers.?Afterward a catered lunch will be served in the fellowship hall.The church members have celebrated the historic anniversary in several different ways throughout the year, starting in September 2001. They had an all-saint cemetery walk to learn about past members, a special Christmas dinner and historical skit, a Souper Bowl on Superbowl Sunday, in May they had a celebration with a May pole and made May baskets and they also had an old-time camp meeting with acoustical songs from the Gold Rush. The congregation is also working on restoring a 1900 buggy, which will be available to those who wed at the church.Hill encouraged visitors to take a look at the 1338 Lincoln Way building, which many of the 12,000 Auburn residents have visited for some occasion or another.She said the church has done well recruiting new members because of its overall atmosphere. She said she started attending services in 1998 because of the musical talent at the church.?The minute I walked in the door it was so hospitable,? she said. ?Everybody seemed to have a part instead of sitting down and letting a few do the work. They work together as a team and use the talents that God has given them.?For more information, call the church at 885-4196 or visit the Website at pioneerumc.org.