Building Through the Shaking: 1904-1954
The 1906 Earthquake
But again, just as peace seemed well established, SRCC was buffeted by another disaster, this time from the outside. The great 1906 earthquake hit Santa Rosa very hard. Over 100 people were killed, and almost every commercial building in town and many homes were destroyed.
No building escaped damage, but the Ross Street church only lost a small amount of stonework, and remained structurally sound. Because nothing else was available, the church was used as a morgue. Pastor Colvin took on the leadership of the Protestant relief effort, with the membership volunteering for untold hours and dollars of assistance. In spite of the horror of the tragedy, the town was rebuilt, with the church and its pastor held in high regard for the assistance provided. When Colvin retired in 1915, a local news reporter wrote "there has never been a minister in this county who has gained the general real regard of the people that Peter Colvin has". God had blessed the church with the right man at a critical time, a recurring theme in SRCC history!
Our Church Expands
The following two decades were a high time in the ministry of the church. New churches were planted in Reno and Oakland with great monetary and personnel assistance from the congregation. Many international missions and domestic workers were supported. A number of small groups arose within the church. A 1924 report showed 18 different organizations functioning, including Christian Endeavor Societies for several age groups, two different missionary societies (including one organized specifically to assist the rebuilding in Europe after WW1), three separate women's groups, six Sunday School classes and a Boy Scout Troop. Also in 1924, the church installed a magnificent new pipe organ at the cost of $5,500 (equivalent to the cost of a house at that time), and in 1927 purchased a parsonage as well as building a $5,000 addition to the Ross Street building.
The church clearly participated in the "Roaring 20s", although not everything was rosy - a report on the church mentions that during this time "internal problems called for much patience and prayer". The official church board records in 1929 include, without further explanation, this moving passage:
"A meeting of the congregation was called after the morning service at which the following resolution was read: Whereas members desire to restore peace and harmony and remove misunderstandings and any injustice which may have been done to any individual or group of brethren, be it resolved that we declare our sincere regret for any and all grievances and misunderstandings which may have arisen...we ask all concerned to stand together in love manifesting the spirit of forgiveness."
Surviving the Depression
Indeed, these small troubles foreshadowed the great period of trial ahead for the nation after October of 1929, when the financial collapse of the stock market ushered in the era known as the Depression. It didn't take long for the money woes to show up in the church, and the abundance of just a few months before quickly dried up as members' fortunes declined. The SRCC budget, which had been a record $7,305 in 1929, shrunk by almost half in 1930. The pastor's salary was cut by 40%, even the janitors by 25%.
In his annual report for 1930, Pastor Louis Patmont states that membership was declining because many members were leaving the area, adding "the worldwide depression has not left us without disheartening effect". By 1932 the Treasurer reported to the board that offerings were only about half of what was needed to keep the church running, and the elders considered ceasing printing the bulletin, as well as charging the Scout Troop and other groups to use the facility.
Still, the dire financial situation did not stop the work of the church; in fact, the same reports that chronicle the money troubles speak of the positive spiritual condition of the membership. A treasurer's report given by P.E. Marlatt in 1931 contains this little gem:
"We can take out the first two letters and the letter 'i' out of the word 'depression' and 'press on'. We have little to lose and heaven to gain."
Rebounding during the Late 30's
With this attitude, pained and humbled but clear-hearted, SRCC made it through the worst, and by 1936 things had rebounded satisfactorily enough to give Pastor O.V. Wilkison a raise and re-carpet the sanctuary. Pastor Wilkison had given most of his salary back to the church for several years and also requested that the parsonage be sold so that the church debt could be retired. He was a tireless minister who started a radio program, started a shut-in visitation program, and held all-day prayer meetings. Highly regarded by all, he had a great love for evangelism and saw substantial growth in membership during his tenure as pastor. But once again, after a period of peace and growth, change came.
The Impact of the Great War
First, Brother "W" resigned as pastor for health reasons in the fall of 1941. And in December of the same year, the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the country into World War II. The arrival of war meant an immediate drain on the church community. Over 80 members joined the military, and a number of families lost loved ones in the next few years.
The pastor who had replaced O.V. Wilkison, Emmett Butterworth, also left to volunteer as a chaplain. Like churches all over the country, members spent much of their time assisting in the war effort and doing all they could to help the soldiers fighting far away. Because of the danger to foreign missionaries, much effort was spent finding ways to serve that important field. During the war years, the church hosted many missionaries and assisted them in resettling and re-engaging their ministries. United by a great common foe, members joined all Americans in focusing on the effort to defeat the evil the Axis powers represented. Their sacrifices, in unison with similar outpouring by millions of others, saved freedom and truly created a new world that is still emerging today.
Nearing Our 100th Year
As the Great War ended in victory and families welcomed home their men that had survived, SRCC members collectively uttered a sigh of relief and set out to reestablish some normalcy. First on the list was to hire a pastor. The war had made it very difficult to retain pastoral leadership. Most ministers had joined or were drafted, and the church had gotten through by relying on missionaries and bible students to do the necessary work. Nobody really objected to this, as the situation demanded it. But new vision was going to be necessary, and rebuilding needed to go on at many levels. A new influx of members was expected as young men came home and married their sweethearts and started families. The church was nearing its 100th year. Who would be the man to lead in this context?
After several interim arrangements, finally in November of 1947 the church board settled upon Howard Stansbery, a trained minister who had been a colonel in the military and had an impressive record, as the pastor of the future who would lead the church into its second century. He immediately got to work, urging members to put the war behind them and seek to bring healing and salvation to a city weary of war and wondering what the future held. It was clear to him – he wanted unprecedented growth as the church rapidly neared 100 years of ministry.