HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 4300-1965RESOLUTION NO. 4300
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF
ST. PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH
WHEREAS, St. Paul's Methodist Church in the City of
South San Francisco, on August 31, 1965, recorded forty
years of service to its members and this community, and,
WHEREAS, the official celebration of said event was
held by the Pastor, Reverend Robert A. Lundy, and the mem-
bers of said church on October 11, 1965, and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of South San
Francisco recognize the contributions made to the community
by St. Paul's Methodist Church.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that
1. The City Council does hereby commend the Pastor
and the members of St. Paul's Methodist Church for their
achievements.
2. The City Council does recognize and take pride in
the accomplishments of St. Paul's Methodist Church and be-
cause of the aforegoing and the fact that the activities
of the church have composed an important part of the history
of South San Francisco, does hereby record in this Resolution
the article written by Lois Garcia, printed in the "Enter-
prise-Journal" of September 29, 1965, to memorialize the
40th Anniversary celebration of St. Paul's Methodist Church:
Fondly remembered during St. Paul's Methodist Church
fortieth birthday dinner party October 11 will be pioneer
resident Catherine Peck.
During the difficult depression years she kept the
doors of St. Paul's church open. To support the church she
sold sack lunches to school children for nickels and dimes
and served local businessmen lunches at a very nominal cost.
The celebration date is a paradox. St. Paul's Church
was 40 years old August 31. The October 11 dinner party
date was due to the busy summer schedule of the honored
guest speaker, Bishop Donald HarveyTippet, as well as the
numerous summer activities of St. Paul's congregation.
Blanche Sullivan, another loyal parishioner, helped
to start the first Protestant Sunday School in South San
Francisco in 1903. She also served in nearly every capa-
city of the church, officially and unofficially, In 1946
Rev. Howard Greenwalt paid tribute to Mrs. Sullivan by
stating: "St. Paul's Church has come into being as the re-
sult of her efforts and labors with those who were like-
minded."
St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, founded by
Rev. George W. Beatty, began in SSF in June 1903. For the
first three years the church service was held in a public
building known as "Butcher's Hall" on Grand Avenue. A few
years later, the church opened its doors on the cornez of
Maple and Grand Avenues. (Today this is the VFW building)
San Bruno remained a part of the SSF Circuit until
1916. As South San Francisco was the "chick" of the San
Marco Mother Church, so was San Bruno Church an offspring
of St. Paul's. Later branches of St. Paul's were Parkwood
and Burl Burl Methodist congregations.
Original members of St. Paul's Church who are still
active include Mrs. Earl Hargraves, the oldest member of
the church; Mrs. Jack Lyle, Mrs. Norman Hynding, Mrs. Ann
Nicholls, Colonel Edward Nicholls, Bertram Nicholls, Lo-
retta Hussar, Antoinette Kozlowski, Mrs. Esther Brown, and
Mrs. Aldo Minucciani.
Since her name is mentioned on the cornerstone of
the present church site, Miller and Spruce Avenues, Mrs.
Minucciani has the unique distinction of being St. Paul's
"youngest-oldest" member.
Families in the early days of the church included the
Bartletts, Nicholls, Duncans, Coleberds, Ledwiths and Hat-
graves.
The official roll of pastors of St~ Paul's is George
W. Beatty, 1902-O3; W. L. Kingsbury, 1903-O4; Samuel
Quickmire, 1904-O5; F. D. Lewis, 1905-O6; A. Raney, 1906;
Robert J. Craig, 1906-O7; William D. Kizer, 1907-O9; D.
Ralston, 1909-1911; M. J. Williams, 1912-13; C. N. Bertels,
1913-15; Thomas A. Atkinson, 1915-16; W. T. Miller, 1916-
17; Daniel Stevens, 1917-18; Phineas T. Lynn, 1918-19; and
Daniel Stevens, 1919-20.
St. Paul's list of 28 pastors continues with C. K.
Peck, 1921-22; Asa P. Beall, 1922-26; W. S. Kelly, 1926-
29; Adam Bird, 1929-1933; A. B. Morten, 1933-1935; E. B.
Winning, 1935-37; Merle Clark, 1937-1940; F. H. Petersime,
1941; C. H. Stephens, 1942-1943; Howard Greenwalt, 1943-
1948; Robert Boswell, 1948-1953; Robert H. Clark, 1953-54;
Theodore E. Wall, 1954-59; and pastor since 1959 is Rev.
Robert A. Lundy.
St. Paul's is approximately fifth in size in the Gol-
den Gate District, which comprises San Francisco to San
Mateo. Ministers remain at St. Paul's an average of five
years. During the summer months, in observance of the for-
tieth anniversary celebration, former pastors of St. Paul's
have been guest speakers at Sunday services. A former
resident and now serving a Sacramento congregation, Rev.
Alvern Vom Steeg, is also scheduled to preach from St.
Paul's pulpit in the near future.
Invited guests for the fortieth dinner party include
the District Superintendent, Mayor Frank Bertucelli, Rev.
Robert Nelson, president of the Ministerial Alliance, and
Monsignor Eugene Gallagher, pastor of the neighboring Ail
Souls Catholic Church.
General chairman for the memorable occasion is Mrs.
Bertram Nicholls. Master of Ceremonies is Aldo Minucciani
and ticket chairman is Mrs. Stan Silva. Senior High MYF
Girls will serve the dinner; Pioneers will do the cooking;
and clean-up will be performed by the Methodist Men's
Group.
Boy Scouts have used St. Paul's for various actlvi-
ties. The building also served as a foreign language
school for the city's Greek population. The Samoans of
this area have used St. Paul's Church on various occasions.
During the crowded years of Wold War II, the church served
as a public school kindergarten. For a brief period St.
Paul's was also a nursery school.
Apropos is the church motto "St. Paul's is always
available for the good of the community. It always has
been and always will be."
Be
T Il~ i'
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution
was regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council
of the City of South San Francisco at a regular
meeting held on the 18th day of October
19 65, by the following vote:
AYES, COUNCILMEN
Frank Bertucelli, Patrick E. Ahem, Emilio Cortesi,
Andrew Rocca and Guido J. Rozzi
NOES, " None
ABSENT, " None
ATTEST:
City Clerl~