Now back in Santa Barbara the Methodists were thinking perhaps they could not support two churches after all, and the Eastside M.E. Church decided to rejoin the Grace Methodists. This left the beautiful little redwood building without a congregation by 1892.
When Carpinteria First Methodist South was offered the edifice for a mere $600 they quickly accepted. All they had to do was move it! Thomas B. Fish offered the lot at the corner of 8th Street and Maple Avenue, and he, along with local ranchers and devout Methodists Gideon and Bernard Franklin and Samuel Treloar, undertook the formidable task.
It would have to travel nearly 12 miles along the narrow Coast Highway, through woodsy Montecito, up and over Ortega Hill, down through the sparsely populated spiritualist settlement of Summerland, around the extensive Carpinteria salt marsh and onto the lot on Maple Avenue.
No small task! But strong faith in their mission, determination, and ingenuity would see a near miracle
SO TUNED TO HIS CRAFT WAS THIS ARTISAN FINELY SAWED AND REJOINED SEAMS EXCEPT
performed. First, the men contracted skilled carpenter Josepho Rodriguez to cut into sections the sturdy redwood beams and flooring and dismantle the stone foundation at a cost of $300. Next, special beds were constructed on two large wagons which were pulled in tandem by a team of 20 horses. In all, 24 trips were required to bring the dismantled church to its new home and anxious congregation.
For an additional $400 Mr. Rodriguez carefully reconstructed the building block by block, board by board, down to the last shingle. So tuned to his craft was this artisan that one could not discern his finely sawed and rejoined seams except upon the closest examination. The hymns of the Carpinteria Methodist Episcopal Church South filled her sanctuary by November of 1893.
The congregation split in 1929 when a majority joined with the local Presbyterian congregation and formed Carpinteria Community Church, which is still active today. The remaining small Methodist congregation finally disbanded in 1968.
LEFT, it is not known who the artisan responsible for the creation of the Church’s stained glass windows is. Names on the windows are believed to be those of benefactors, such as Lucinda J. Callis, a charter member of Carpinteria First Methodist South. OPPOSITE PAGE, the church circa 1890s.
94 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE
BLACKBURN
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