Who We Are . . .
History
In Service to God for Over a Century!
The Mayflower Congregational Church was organized over 100 years ago on November 29, 1891. Pacific Grove was largely a Methodist community at that time. The membership grew to forty people and was self supporting by 1893 when the first building was constructed. The first service in the building was on June 11, 1893. In 1909, the church obtained the first pipe organ on the Monterey Peninsula. The present structure was built in 1911 after a fire destroyed the original wood building on March 14, 1910. The first service in the new building was held on Nov. 13, 1910, and later a new pipe organ was installed. The inaugural recital of the new pipe organ took place on Sept. 1, 1916.
The congregation grew over the next twenty-five years and became a solid church body within the community, giving generously to mission work. Furthermore, the church contributed $75,000 for local purposes and $15,000 to mission work, which was one-sixth of its total income.
During the mid 1940's the church membership grew to approximately 350 members. The church withdrew from the Organization of Congregational Churches in 1953 and became a self-supporting, self-governing, non-denominational church, known as Mayflower Church of Pacific Grove. This membership remained through the 1960's.
A separate building was built for the growing Sunday school program in 1970, although, the decades of the 70's and 80's saw the church enter a time of gradual decline. In 1989, the church body voted to become a part of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and entered into the process of redevelopment.
Since then, God has drawn together a vital, growing family.
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| 1891, November 29 | Mayflower Congregation Church CHARTERED1 24 members. Reverend I.H. Warren 1 |
| 1893 | First Building constructed 1 |
| 1983, June 11 | First service in new building 1 |
| 1908 | Mayflower Women's Association organized 1 |
| 1909, June 29 | New organ installed and dedicated. Destroyed when building burned |
| 1910, March 14 | Church burned down 1 |
| 1910, March 22 | By this date, $10,000 pledged for new building 1 |
| 1910, August | Walls are covered with a veneer of buff sand-lime brick from Seaside plant 3 |
| 1910, Nov. 13 | First service in new church |
| 1916, Sept. 1 | Inaugural recital of the new organ 1 |
| 1941, Nov. 29 | Fiftieth anniversary celebrated 2 |
| 1953, Nov. 19 | Withdraws from organization of Congregation church. Becomes known as Mayflower church of Pacific Grove 1 |
| 1954 | Three of the four church towers were removed. One still stands today at 14th & Central Ave. |
| 1970 | Christian Education building is constructed 1 |
| 1989, Dec. | Affiliated with Presbyterian Church USA 1 |
| 1990, Feb 3 | Received into San Jose Presbytery 1 |
| 1992 | Received Heritage Society plaque 4 |
KEY:
1 From the pamphlet of "Home tours of April 26, 1992"
2 "Tide News Paper" of Nov. 21, 1941
3 "B&B" of Dec. 86 / Jan 98
4 Heritage Society Plaque application
Read about the restoration of our historic pipe organ. The Mayflower Pipe Organ is the oldest intact playing pipe organ on the Monterey Peninsula.
