About Us

While Methodist work in Redding began unofficially as early as 1873 as a "Union Sunday School", serviced by circuit riders, it was not until 1881 that a parsonage was built, a pastor appointed, and a congregation organized.  At first, services were held in the newly-built Presbyterian Church, but in 1884, property was purchased on the northeast corner of Placer and Market Streets, the present location of Home Federal Savings at the south entrance to the Downtown Mall, and a church was built.  Because of its central location, this building was also used by local authorities as a courthouse during the week.  In 1905 the little building burned to the ground, and building and contents were a total loss.  Happily, the building was, at least, partially insured; and this gave a start on the second building which was built a block south of Placer Street, at the corner of Market and Sacramento Streets.

This new building, much larger and more adequate than the old, was completed in January 1907, at a cost of about $8,000.  The church building and parsonage were located in the area between the corner and the Cascade Theater.  This building served Methodists in Redding for 43 years until it was condemned in 1950. During this period, a number of noteworthy pastors served the congregation, and many fine things were done in the community.  Also during this period, the building was remodeled and modernized. The old "witch's hat steeple" was removed and a new bell tower was added.

In September 1950, the church building was condemned by the city of Redding as unsafe for further public use.  The cost of repairs would have been far more than the old building was worth; and since the congregation had essentially outgrown it, plans were made to build a new building in another location.  Property was found at the corner of South and East streets (our present location).  Because it takes much time to build a new building "from scratch," the congregation was essentially homeless for three years.  Worship services were moved next door to the Cascade Theater; the Sunday School Classes were held all over the downtown area – some in the theater, in a nearby mortuary, in the parsonage, in public rooms in the Hotel Redding, and anywhere else that space could be found.

After a great deal of work by many people, the first worship service was held in the present location, in what is now the Social Hall, on Christmas Day, 1953.  The construction project continued, and on Sunday, January 9, 1955, the first worship service was held in the cathedral-like sanctuary of the new church, a far cry from the tiny first building at the corner of Placer and Market.  The education wing was subsequently completed and consecrated on May 5, 1962, and the present plan was essentially complete.

Presently, a Building Renovation Campaign has begun the process which will lead to many improvements to the structure of this building.  Through congregational pledges of financial support, the committee has been able to submit plans to the Redding Planning Commission to begin renovation on the roof, as well as the installation of a much needed elevator.  Further plans include remodeling of the sanctuary to remove the unused pulpits to create more room for the bands and choir, as well as the installation of a large projection screen.

The Methodists in Redding have composed of thousands of committed laypersons over their years of history, and have been served by more than 30 pastors in that time.  Pictures of many of the former pastors can be seen outside the church office suite in what is probably one of the most complete pastoral "rogues' galleries" of any church in the California-Nevada Conference.  The fruits of the labors of committed United Methodist lay persons can be seen around you in their historic and present commitment to love and service, through mission and concern for others in the name and spirit of Christ.

First Church currently has approximately 500 Members from the Redding Area.

Methodism

The Methodist movement started with a man by the name of John Wesley, who was an Anglican priest in England during the 1700s.  While attending Oxford University, he formed a religious group of students who led very disciplined lives.  They were very strict and 'methodic', thus being known as Methodists by outsiders.  In 1735-1737, he was a missionary of the Church of England to the Georgia colony in America, and was quite unsuccessful and frustrated by the experience.

While returning to England, John spent time with Moravians and realized that they had a personal relationship with God, which he lacked.  During a religious meeting in 1738, he 'felt his heart strangely warmed' and experienced a conversion which strengthened his faith in God and in Jesus Christ.  With this new found faith, he began to preach to people about the grace of God, the loving salvation God offers, and rejected the notion of predestination.  He also found that the working class who often worked six or seven days a week, needed access to this message, so he took it to them, preaching early in the morning where workers were gathered.  He traveled throughout England organizing small study groups.

Eventually, this movement spread to America, and Wesley trained lay preachers to assist the movement.  Francis Asbury was particularly influential in the spread of Methodism in America. Circuit riders were trained and spent their lives preaching all across the new colonies, establishing local study groups in the communities they visited.  Other lay preachers were trained and eventually held conferences, or meetings, similar to that which was held in England.  After the American Revolution, Wesley sent Thomas Coke with a prayer book written by Wesley titled 'The Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America' which incorporated revisions of the Church of England's Articles of Religion.  This effectively gave the Methodists in America the permission to form a formal denomination of their own. In December 1784, at the Christmas Conference in Baltimore, The Methodist Episcopal Church was established.  Throughout the years since, Methodism has grown, and in 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church combined to form the United Methodist Church.

*This information was derived primarily from the UMC website - follow the link for more detailed history.