History
Beginning
It was during the winter of 1934 that Mr. and Mrs. Wade started holding Sunday school for their daughters and several other children in the vicinity in their home on the corner of Vail and Matthews. Thus began the story of St. Paul’s in Redondo Beach that is still going strong even after 80+ years. Others became interested and contact was made with the Methodist church. The conference sent Rev E. J Bradner. The first service of Shore Acres Community church was held May 5, 1935 in an old ”Bottlecap factory”. It was located just north of Redondo Beach Blvd, now known as Artesia Blvd.
Rev. Stevens
Robert Hoobyar remembers “We moved to Shore Acres in June 1937. It was a Saturday night and we were getting settled. I went out to the intersection of Mackay Lane and Curtis Ave. and asked some boys riding their bicycles where the nearest Sunday school and Church was located. They named several streets but being new residents we knew no street names. “OK” said one of the boys “You will hear a bell and just follow the sound of the bell and there you will find the Sunday school and church.” Sure enough Sunday morning the bell rang and we started walking to Vail and Redondo Beach Blvd. There we found Mr. William Price and his wife sweeping out bottle caps and scooping them up into a carton. This was a coke bottle factory which was serving as a Sunday school and church for the Shore Acres Methodist Church. At 10:45 a tall, elderly man and his wife entered the church. Later, he was introduced as Rev. Stevens. The church bell rang loud and clear. The bell was purchased by Mr. Wade from Grant Ave. School after it had burned down in 1936 for $1.00. Just One dollar for the bell. It is still ringing in the tower of St.Paul’s.”
Under the leadership of Rev. Stevens lots were purchased at the corner of Felton and Nelson Lane. It was at a turkey dinner in 1938 that the Shore Acres Women’s Society was having, that LJ Hawkins, a local builder, donated 2500ft of lumber; Councilman Dailey donated all the cement for the foundations; and countless others donated their time and talent as carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers and common laborers. In mid 1938 construction began, and the first service was held Christmas Day 1938, even before the cornerstone was laid.
In March 1939 the cornerstone was laid and the name of the church was renamed North Redondo Methodist Church.
1940s
Rev. Vandenberg oversaw some remodeling of the basement and the finish work in the sanctuary. All the funds were raised through the church with the Women’s Society working overtime with food sales, dinners and bazaars. Soon the little church’s cradle role grew, as well as the youth group. The basement was extended. Rev. Vandenberg worked many hours grading the yard and landscaping the property.
From 1944 to 1950 several student ministers served the congregation.
In 1948, the church purchased a parsonage at 2606 Nelson. Richard Olds was the first minister to live in this house. There were 88 members in 1948.
1950s
Rev. Homer Suydam was minister from 1950 to 1956 he spent many hours repairing the church. Uncle Suyddie, as he was known, became ill and retired.
North Redondo Beach had begun to grow during these years and many families made North Redondo Methodist their spiritual home.
In 1956 Rev. Harold E. ”Johnny” Carlson was appointed our next minister. He and his wife Rilla began programs for youth, music, spiritual development, and a building program for a new sanctuary. Through their efforts and prayers, the members were united in providing a place of worship with seating for 250 and a new organ. This new building was finished and consecrated on June 22, 1959.
1960s
In 1961 Rev. Robert Plastow came to us from Chicago. He spent hours knocking on doors getting acquainted with our members and the community. During his ministry we grew to 600 members and 250 members in the church school.
Membership continued to grow, and the basement and cottages were overflowing with Sunday school attendees, so the new education building was designed in late 1966. The new building was completed under the ministry of Robert Shepherd and consecrated on October 1967.
Since Matthews Cottage was now empty, a lease was given to Headstart for the space. But their enrollment also expanded and they moved to the Wesley House, leaving Matthews open for the various evening meeting. Also, the parsonage was relocated next door to the cottage on Matthews Ave.
In 1968 there were 566 members and our church became “St. Paul’s United Methodist Church”
1970s
In 1970, Rev. Lanny Arrowsmith and his wife Jane began their ministry with their two boys. Their hope was to nurture the younger families in the church community.
Tragedy struck in February 1971, when the church caught fire. It apparently started in the Pastor’s office, due to a short in the wiring that was created during the Sylmar earthquake the week before. The insurance covered everything which “updated” the chancel area. In June 1971, the sanctuary was rededicated.
Feeling a need to serve our community, St. Paul’s opened its doors to many projects and groups. One such project we sponsored was “Community Celebration of the Arts”. Artists came from all over to display their works from candles to paintings. The ladies of the church served food. It was a gala event that we hosted for five years.
In May 1975 we celebrated our Fortieth anniversary with a special day of worship and a luncheon. Many former members returned to celebrate.
In June 1975 Rev. Donald Dingleman was appointed to St.Paul’s church. He and his wife, JoAnn, and their two sons soon were involved in the activities of the church.
In the summer of 1975 we held a very successful Vacation Bible school. During the bicentennial of our country we celebrated with a program and potluck. Members dressed in costumes of 1776 and worship were historically presented.
Rev. Dingleman introduced a stewardship education program; members were given a dollar and asked to use their own talent to increase that dollar and then return the increase to the church.
A Talent fair was held on May 1977, at which members and friends of St. Paul’s displayed their crafts and hobbies.
Rev. James E. Hamilton came to serve St. Paul’s in June 1977.
The number one goal for 1978 was to involve the St. Paul’s congregation once more in the local community. As a result, several community groups began to use the church facilities on a regular basis; some are still here.
The youth of the church had many money-making activities to finance a week as a work team at camp Sturtevant during Easter vacation. There they made needed repairs at the camp and also had a week’s vacation in the mountains.
In June 1978, the administrative council moved that a special effort be made to pay off the mortgage by June 1979. This goal was realized through big rummage sales and individual donors by Easter 1979. We burned our mortgage in June 1979 in grand fashion.
And so another decade ended in the life of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
1980s
The eighties began with our membership celebrating activities such as Church in the park, sewing circles, United Methodist women, faith circle, rummage sales and lots of music. The children enjoyed Easter egg hunts; the women had mother-daughter luncheons; the men’s fellowship held their monthly pancake breakfasts.
Do you remember our creative financial stewardship campaigns? “Mile of Dimes” or the “Pony Express”. Or those great church cookbooks?
Our trustees worked overtime under the leadership of Richard “Dick” Savage and George Cheever to maintain and improve the church property.
In May 1985 we celebrated our Golden Anniversary with past and present members and clergy attending; fun and fellowship were enjoyed by all.
Endeavors were put in motion to sell the old parsonage on Matthews to build a new parsonage on Nelson Ave. On January 15, 1989, we dedicated our newly built parsonage.
AIDS Hotline
“AIDS Heart line Outreach Ministry”
Because of AIDS Heart Line, we realized outreach to our community was paramount. We hosted Carnivals, Halloween parties, visitations to rest homes, Bingo nights and all the holy holiday festivities.
1990s
In June 1993 Rev Jim had served St. Paul’s for 16 years and was reassigned.
Rev. Perry Wiggins was welcomed in July 1993. Perry directed a 32 week Disciples course which nurtured many. He purchased the first Pascal candle and our second-generation acolytes were integral in his worship services. We celebrated youth and youth participation. We held rummage sales, car washes, and fellowshipped with potlucks. We even sang Christmas carols from a double-decker bus. Who can ever forget Rev. Perry’s Halloween Costume as Al from the television show Home Improvement? Reverend Perry served for 5 years and then moved out of state.
Rev. Fran Materra and her family moved into our parsonage in 1998 and were welcomed by St. Paul’s family with dinner and flowers.
Rev. Fran led the church in the park with fun and games for all. We had plays from the St. Paul’s Players.
In the fall of 1998, we started a new endeavor… “Bubba’s Bakery”
2000s
After the tragedy of 9/11 and Rev. Fran moving away, Rev. Charles Poole came to us when the congregation sorely needed a spiritual renewal. We honored our veterans and we sent cards to our servicemen and women far from home.
We were grateful in January 2002, to the “RVers in Mission” who came and painted the inside of the education building bathrooms and did repairs that were needed. The Kitchen was outdated and overused, so a new stainless steel kitchen was completed and dedicated in 2002. Our own Debbie Landvatter was nominated and received Youth Leader of the year award from our Long Beach District at the annual conference 2002.
Rev. Erika Gara and her husband Joel were welcomed to St Paul’s in July 2002. Rev. Erika became the “Cat in the Hat” for our children’s ministry and read her way through Dr. Suess. Who knew Dr. Suess could be so spiritual? The praise team, with the added talent of Erika’s husband Joel, playing guitar, began to play regularly before church. Erika led thought-provoking Bible studies and helped us grow in our faith through these studies.
In the summer of 2004 our Music director Donna and her husband Steve relocated to the southeast to be closer to family. This was a big loss to our congregation. But in the fall of 2004, Richard Jones became our new Minister of Music. Richard has enriched our congregation with his musical talents by raising the rafters regularly on Sunday.
Our church hosted lay speaking classes and our own Praise band, complete with drums, was asked to lead the music for the Long Beach District Lay Speakers Conference at the Claremont School of Theology in the spring of 2005.
We participated in the Relay for Life; we were one of the first churches in our area to do so. What a powerful experience for all.
The summer of 2005 was filled with our first Fabulous Follies, where Richard introduced us to his musical friends. This was the first of many fundraisers. Thanks to Richard, we now have a baby grand piano and an organ that does almost everything but play itself – or does it?
Lastly, Reverend Erika admonished us weekly to “Go out and make a difference!”
Rev. Cheryl Kelly was a breath of fresh air that blew into St. Paul’s July 2006. Pastor Cheryl took the church in the park and brought it to the front lawn of the church; it is now known as CHAWN. We celebrated the second annual Follies. We visited the Lazy W camp for their annual barbeque. Rev. Cheryl introduced us to Hobson the bear, who has visited with many of our young children – and some older ones too. The Ways and Means committee taught us how to wrap presents. And they had a gift wrapping booth to raise funds during the holidays.
We celebrated Christmas Eve with a visit from Mrs. Claus. We welcomed in 2007 with a New Years Eve party playing Apples to Apples. We have been whale watching, took a trip to Descanso Gardens, and saw the Gaither Family in concert. Our church moved toward modern technology by the addition of our projection system in the fall of 2008.
In July 2009 we boarded a bus and went to the University at Redlands to witness, along with Rev Cheryl’s family, her ordination. What an honor as we cheered her on. We celebrated the next day with her family participating in worship and her son Rev. Sean Kelly, delivering the sermon.
Rev Cheryl led an endeavor to hold a Children’s Vacation Bible School in July 2009 with more volunteers than children. But a connection with Hawthorne United Methodist Church was made through this program.
Our friends from Hawthorne United Methodist church provided some of their talented parishioners to our luau and our Richard Hernandez sang and played his guitar.
St. Paul’s was becoming a closer-knit family with the nurturing and guidance of Rev. Cheryl. Rev. Cheryl encourages others to lead and grow spiritually through “Bible Light” Bible study, the book club, and the Wednesday hour of prayer. Rev. Cheryl introduced us to the Taize service. She has even blessed our animals. Rev. Cheryl inspires us to believe in the miracles that happen around us – the ordinary and the extraordinary. Rev Cheryl encourages us to be “God’s presence in the world.”
2010s
On the 3rd of June, 2011, Rev. Moonyoung Lee was appointed to serve St. Paul’s until she was appointed to Wilshire United Methodist Church in 2015.
Rev. Moonyoung Lee was followed by Rev. Lynette Fuka who served St. Paul’s for 4 years.
In 2019, Rev. Keith Uesugi-Hwang was appointed to serve as a half-time pastor along with his position at the West District as the Assistant Director of the West District Union.
We are thankful that God inspired the founding members of Shore Acres Methodist church to work, pray and establish a church in this community. This spirit has carried us through the depression years, second world war, inflation years of the ’70s and ’80s and the high tech years of the ’90s and beyond. There have been over 1600 persons who have joined in this fellowship. Each has made their contribution to a congregation that believes in God’s work in this community
Poem: The Church of My Dream
John Milton Moore
“This is the church of my dreams,
The church of the warm heart,
Of the open mind,
Of the adventurous spirit;
The church that cares,
That heals hurt lives,
That comforts old people,
That challenges youth;
That knows no divisions of culture or class,
No frontiers, geographical or social;
The church that inquires as well as avers,
That looks forward as well as backward;
The church of the Master,
The church of the people,
High as the ideals of Jesus,
Low as the humblest human;
A working church,
A worshiping church,
A winsome church;
A church that interprets the truth in terms of its own times
And challenges its times in terms of the truth;
That inspires courage for this life and hope for the life to come;
A church of courage,
A church of all good men,
The Church of the living God.
Welcome, Home to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church…
Making a difference in this community for 80+ years.