Santa Clara United Methodist Church (SCUMC) has played an important role in south bay's Valley. We arrived before the 49'er Gold Rush as a certain missional, agricultural, welfare, and educative interest for California.
We have sister churches throughout the Valley & State with histories borne from our own: especially Santa Cruz, St. Paul's, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Campbell, Sunnyvale, and College Park UMCs. Finally, we've been a beachhead, beginning with Oregon & California, for many evangelical missions along Pacific shores.
Much more needs be done! Please join us for this enterprise of 'perfect love', firstly, by letting us know how we may help and serve you!
[Image above of the 'Stucco Church' was taken from a photo currently displayed at City Hall]
Santa Clara UMC is the single oldest Protestant congregation in California. In 2026 we shall commemorate the Methodists' landing in our Valley as dated October 16th, 1846 by Margaret Hecox's in her journal. Our first preaching service was November 2nd of the same year. The Rev. Sanders called it, "The first Protestant Church West of the Mississippi". As a Protestant, and particularly Methodist, church we have a Wesleyan inheritance with a commitment to scriptural mission & service.
Some of the earliest founders who arrived by wagon train in 1846 were Judge Adna Hecox and his wife, Margaret (Margaret recorded their journey in her diary, later published under the title, California Caravan); Cpt. Joseph Aram and his dauther, Sarah (who married the Rev. P Cool, serving in Berryessa); James Reed, survivor of the tragic Donner Party; William and Benjamin Campbell, founders of the nearby town also called 'Campbell'. Others included Agnes Hancock and Silas Bennett. In 1847 further emigrants arrived, augmenting methodist numbers and gifts, most importantly Elihu Anthony (an ex-Quaker) & Rev. Charles Campbell. Likewise, in the same year came the Rev. William Roberts, first superintendent of the Oregon & California Conference.
[Stained-Glass Memorial Plaque says, "for the Santa Clara Methodist congregation first organized in 1846]
As a past mission station we've built great institutions like the University of the Pacific & Liberty Towers. Our charitable impact includes local parks, orchards, roads, bayside warfs, government legislation, fraternal lodges, mineral mines, street names, neighborhoods and homes. More information about our beginnings as the first Protestant congregation in Alta California has been complied here.
Contact us for other Archival, Plaque, or Commemoration updates, collected by SCUMC's Anniversary & Community Committee.
One-Hundred Eighty Years & Beyond
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