Story: Our Heritage
A History Lesson
In 1886, Jasper and Ellen Scott joined their relatives, the Cline family, in the small wilderness village of Sidney, Washington. They were “Cambellites”, part of the restoration movement. The church met in homes to read Scripture, exhort each other, offer prayers, and celebrate communion.
In December 6, 1988, the church incorporated at the “Sidney Church of Christ” with seventeen adult members. (Jasper was not one of these, having died earlier in the year.) This was nearly a year before Washington became a state and three years before Congress appropriated funds for the U.S. Navy to buy land across the inlet for Puget Sound Naval Station.
The next month (January 1889) the community built the first building, still located at Dekalb and Harrision streets. Then in October of 1892, the Ladies Aid Society raised $42 to purchase an organ. This led to conflict with Mrs Scott and her family, who believed in acapella worship. They separated, and began to meet in which ever relative’s home that Mrs Scott was staying with.
With the shipyard booming, Port Orchard (as Sidney was renamed in 1893) was growing. On April 13, 1941, they met for the first time in the Annapolis building (see story of the bell below). J.C. Bunn, who was influential in the growth of many Puget Sound area churches, preached. Brother Bunn would return to this church to serve full time in 1950. Among the charter members was a new couple, just arrived from Montana. Willard and Nora Hoover would serve as pillars of the church for over sixty years.
In 1955 the church appointed elders and deacons, Elders were J.C. Bunn, Willard Hoover, and P.E. Tucker. Deacons were Berry Leftwich, Arden Prather, and Flavil Robins.
The church moved to its current location on Carr Lane in April of 1981, with members having worked under Lonzo Pribble to construct the building themselves. Brother Pribble helped put up buildings in many communities, and you can see the “Pribble Plan” in the similarities to these “sister” buildings. One of these is the Aberdeen building.
The church has continued in this location, guided by humble men of God such as Willard Hoover, Chuck Palmer, Bob Williams, Dewayne Gower, Melvin Byrd, and others. A long tradition of supporting other Christians exists, with connections to missionaries in Zimbabwe, India, Russia, and Croatia. Local projects include support of GNEW lectureships, Celebration, and Delano Bay Christian Camp.
The History of the Bell in our Building
Some remember a man named Robert Stanton who owned and operated a successful grocery store in Annapolis. They tell how Mr. Stanton wanted to hear a church bell ringing in the little Annapolis cove. Since there was not another church in the immediate area at that time, he purchased this bell and donated it to the building project. It was installed and heard regularly as it rang out the worship call.
On April 13th, 1941, the building at Annapolis was finished and a small group of Christians were able to meet in it for the first time. Later in the year 2000, it was donated to the Sr. Saints at our Church in memory of the rich heritage and humble beginnings of Port Orchard church of Christ.
In 1886, Jasper and Ellen Scott joined their relatives, the Cline family, in the small wilderness village of Sidney, Washington. They were “Cambellites”, part of the restoration movement. The church met in homes to read Scripture, exhort each other, offer prayers, and celebrate communion.
In December 6, 1988, the church incorporated at the “Sidney Church of Christ” with seventeen adult members. (Jasper was not one of these, having died earlier in the year.) This was nearly a year before Washington became a state and three years before Congress appropriated funds for the U.S. Navy to buy land across the inlet for Puget Sound Naval Station.
The next month (January 1889) the community built the first building, still located at Dekalb and Harrision streets. Then in October of 1892, the Ladies Aid Society raised $42 to purchase an organ. This led to conflict with Mrs Scott and her family, who believed in acapella worship. They separated, and began to meet in which ever relative’s home that Mrs Scott was staying with.
With the shipyard booming, Port Orchard (as Sidney was renamed in 1893) was growing. On April 13, 1941, they met for the first time in the Annapolis building (see story of the bell below). J.C. Bunn, who was influential in the growth of many Puget Sound area churches, preached. Brother Bunn would return to this church to serve full time in 1950. Among the charter members was a new couple, just arrived from Montana. Willard and Nora Hoover would serve as pillars of the church for over sixty years.
In 1955 the church appointed elders and deacons, Elders were J.C. Bunn, Willard Hoover, and P.E. Tucker. Deacons were Berry Leftwich, Arden Prather, and Flavil Robins.
The church moved to its current location on Carr Lane in April of 1981, with members having worked under Lonzo Pribble to construct the building themselves. Brother Pribble helped put up buildings in many communities, and you can see the “Pribble Plan” in the similarities to these “sister” buildings. One of these is the Aberdeen building.
The church has continued in this location, guided by humble men of God such as Willard Hoover, Chuck Palmer, Bob Williams, Dewayne Gower, Melvin Byrd, and others. A long tradition of supporting other Christians exists, with connections to missionaries in Zimbabwe, India, Russia, and Croatia. Local projects include support of GNEW lectureships, Celebration, and Delano Bay Christian Camp.
The History of the Bell in our Building
Some remember a man named Robert Stanton who owned and operated a successful grocery store in Annapolis. They tell how Mr. Stanton wanted to hear a church bell ringing in the little Annapolis cove. Since there was not another church in the immediate area at that time, he purchased this bell and donated it to the building project. It was installed and heard regularly as it rang out the worship call.
On April 13th, 1941, the building at Annapolis was finished and a small group of Christians were able to meet in it for the first time. Later in the year 2000, it was donated to the Sr. Saints at our Church in memory of the rich heritage and humble beginnings of Port Orchard church of Christ.