Our Story

     From the earliest Methodist circuit riders during the gold rush era through the present day, the First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa has had a vital impact in the community.  Methodists were here before there was a city of Santa Rosa, and we have grown as an integral and important asset to Sonoma County.  We pray that our future is as full and effective in mission and ministry as our past has been.
    The first handful of Methodists, who began meeting in 1851 at the Lebanon Baptist Church in Franklin, built the first church structure in 1868 at Fifith and B Streets.  In 1884 the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) moved the church built in 1868 to a new site at the corner of Fifth and Orchard.  In 1894 the old church, having outgrown the facilities which were built before the arrival of Pacific Methodist College with its influx of professors, students and staff, was moved to the rear of the lot, rotated 90 degrees, and a new sanctuary, steeple and entrance was added.  The new church was completed in 1901 for a cost of $13,550.38.  The church soon grew to be a popular landmark in the town, and was featured in several picture post cards of the day.  In particular, the steeple of the church stood like a beacon of hope in the rubble of demolished buildings following the famous northern California earthquake of 1906.  Because the Methodist Church of Santa Rosa had grown considerably since the Fourth Street church had been first occupied in 1901, the church was moved to it's present location on Montgomery Drive (on property given by Mrs. Mead Clark in 1947) in 1951.  The growth in ministry and mission continued through the 20th century leading the church to embark on a multi-site ministry at the turn of the century.  Eight acres of land was purchased at the corner of Giffen Ave. and Stony Point Road with worship services beginning in in the R.L. Stevens School in the year 2000.  In 2006, the Stony Point Ministry Center was consecrated as the first new building on the Stony Point Campus.
     The First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa currently offers six worship services at both the Montgomery and Stony Point campuses throughout the week.  Each service offers a somewhat different style of worship that represents the many different ways that people think about and express their faith.  It is important to note that the differences are of style, and not substance.  We have come to understand that diversity is healthy.  The people called Methodists are not of one mind and perhaps never will be;  however, we agree with John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in 19th century England, when he said: "We do not have to think alike to love alike."
          When we examine the soul of the church, we miss the centrality of  God's love if we look only at location, wood or concrete.  The "historical" Methodist Church has been a presence, not merely a place.  It is a body of well-meaning, God-serving people who have joined with others to create a community of love.  Where should a church be?  Anywhere the love of  God is needed.  Therefore, we are a church that strives to create a community of love by reaching up through personal spirituality and reaching out with social responsibility to all of God's people.