The History of Easter Hill

Celebrating Fifty-Nine Years of Worship

By Mrs. Hattie Langston, Historian Chairperson
Mr. George Harris II, Co-Chairperson
Mrs. Augustine Williams

Easter Hill church began in the late nineteen-forties and early fifties.

In the late forties a small group met at the apartment of Jones and Mattie Mann to explore the possibilities of forming a church. There were other subsequent meetings; some of those in attendance were John and Marie Griffin, Charles and Nola Bridges, Everett and Rosa Pendleton, James and Romance Mann, Samuel and Augustine Williams and Rev. F.H. Busher, Pastor of St Luke’s Methodist Church.

On November 7, 1950 a banquet was held at St. Luke’s Church as the first fund raising activity sponsored by Rev. Busher, the Richmond Council of Churches and the Richmond Cooperative Parish. The banquet raised $1,600.00. The property at 30th and Hoffman Blvd. was purchased.

"The Little Brown House" - circa 1951

Rev. Dixon served for a short period as the pastor of this small group, followed by Rev. S.D. Rhone, Rev. Carr and Rev. W.B. Smith. Easter Hill as a church became a reality, although not formally organized.

There was a hill between 23rd and 28th Street between Hoffman and Cutting Blvd. which served as the site for Easter Sunrise worship services. The Easter Hill housing development was also built nearby and the church being so close to this area assumed the name Easter Hill.

On February 15, 1951 Rev. Wilbur Johnson arrived from Boston MA to become the first pastor of the newly organized church. This would be the home of the church until 1956 when the State of California purchased the site for highway expansion.

Land was purchased at our present site at 39th and Cutting Blvd, and on December 25, 1957 the first worship service was held in the newly built church. Rev. Wilbur Johnson served as Pastor until June 1959. Rev Booker Anderson was appointed in June 1959 and served as Pastor until 1969. Following Rev. Anderson, Rev. Dr. A. Edward Bell was appointed and served as Pastor until 1971.

Easter Hill under construction - circa 1956

Several interim Pastors served at Easter Hill during the transition period following Rev. Bell. There was Rev. Amos Cambridge, Rev. Max Brown and Rev. David Houston. In 1973 Rev. James King was appointed Pastor and served until 1977. He is now Bishop James King. Following Rev. James King Rev. Amos Cambridge served as interim Pastor. In 1977 Rev. Ronald Swisher was appointed and served until 1990.

Rev. Dorothy Williams was appointed. She was the first African American female Pastor ordained by the California Nevada Conference and became Easter Hill’s first female Pastor in June 1990. Rev. Williams retired June 1992. Rev Frederick Gray and Rev. Reginald Nichols served as part of Easter Hill’s Ministry. July 1992 Rev. Phillip Lawson was appointed Minister of Easter Hill and served until he retired on July 1, 2003.

Rev. Billye Austin was appointed Easter Hill’s first Associate Pastor July 1, 1998. Rev. Austin was appointed as Easter Hill’s Senior Pastor July 1, 2003. Easter Hill has produced three persons who have been called to ministry in the United Methodist Church. Rev. Billye Austin, Rev. Antonia Jones Bryant and Minister Carol Estes.

Rev. Austin continues Easter Hill’s legacy of spiritually based social justice ministry and embraces our children, adults and our elderly.

Hattie Langston