On
coming to Owens Valley. I was on duty every other Sunday. It meant I could
attend church only on the alternate Sunday. Although I joined the Pioneer
Memorial Methodist Church, we only attended occasionally. It was not until
about 1959, when my shift was changed, that I began to attend church more
regularly.
This
proud little church was just what its name implies. It was one of the
first churches in the valley. Within its doors many of the valley people,
from all walks of life, had come to worship. The church building had
served the community in many ways besides religious services. Its history
is the history of Independence. The church has touched the lives of many
people. weddings. Funerals, 4-H meetings, Scout meetings, Civic and other
club meetings, receptions, square dances, dinners and no end of community
functions besides the religious services.
With
the passing of years the artificial "stained" glass windows of
the sanctuary began to deteriorate. As a memorial to loved ones, members
purchased double-sash ripple window glass for each of the windows. Under
the direction of Rev. Fred Jarman, the youth of the church laid out a
different religious symbol on each window pane. Each symbol was completed,
in color, by glueing {sic} small pieces of colored glass to each part of
the symbol. When completed, and in place, the windows added greatly to the
beauty of the sanctuary. They also made a scene, with angels for back of
the altar, by glueing {sic} the colored glass to panes of clear glass. It
is illuminated by indirect artificial light. Another unusual feature of
our church is the cross above the altar. Most churches have a cross above.
or near, the altar but ours is made of wood from a Bristlecone pine tree
which, undoubtedly, was a living tree during Christ's ministry on this
earth. Everything in, or about our Pioneer Memorial Church is the result
of some one's unselfish giving of themselves or their means, so that the
people of Independence and the stranger, regardless of creed or color,
might have a place to worship.
In
1971, the Pioneer Memorial Church became 100 years old. During the year,
numerous events were held commemorating the centennial. That year some
worshipers, especially the women, came dressed in attire of the period of
100 years ago. The highlight of that centennial year for me, as our church
lay representative to our Annual Conference at Redlands, was to receive
for our church a commemorative plaque presented by Bishop Kennedy. This I
later delivered to the church.
{*Copied without permission from Saga of Inyo County
©1977 by Chapter 183, Southern Inyo American Association of Retired
Persons.}
