The history of Easter Hill United Methodist Church begins in the late forties and early fifties, when there was a need for a church on the South side of Richmond California. A small group of people met to explore the possibilities of forming a church and Rev. Fred H. Busher, pastor of St. Luke's Church, suggested the organization of a Methodist Church. On November 7, 1950, a banquet was held as the first fund raising activity and $1,600 was raised, which was used to buy the property at 30th and Hoffman Blvd. "The Little Brown Church”.
Rev. Dixon served as the first pastor, followed by Rev. S. D. Rhone, Rev. Carr and Rev. W. B. Smith. Easter Hill as a church was becoming a reality, although not formally organized. The church’s name was chosen due to its location. There was a hill between 28th Street and Hoffman Blvd. which served as the Easter Sunrise Worship site. The Easter Hill housing development was also nearby, so the name Easter Hill was assumed.
On February 15, 1951, Rev. Wilbur R. Johnson became the first pastor of the newly organized church. Rev. Busher wanted a non-denominational community church to embrace both Baptist and Methodist members. Rev. Johnson persuaded Rev. Busher and others to recognize the church's Methodist roots and call the new congregation what it really was, a United Methodist Church. Rev. Johnson became the founding and first pastor of the Easter Hill United Methodist Church.
In 1956 land was purchased at 39th and Cutting Blvd., and on December 25, 1957 the first worship service was held in the newly built Easter Hill United Methodist Church. Pastor Johnson served Easter Hill until June of 1959.
Rev. Dixon served as the first pastor, followed by Rev. S. D. Rhone, Rev. Carr and Rev. W. B. Smith. Easter Hill as a church was becoming a reality, although not formally organized. The church’s name was chosen due to its location. There was a hill between 28th Street and Hoffman Blvd. which served as the Easter Sunrise Worship site. The Easter Hill housing development was also nearby, so the name Easter Hill was assumed.
On February 15, 1951, Rev. Wilbur R. Johnson became the first pastor of the newly organized church. Rev. Busher wanted a non-denominational community church to embrace both Baptist and Methodist members. Rev. Johnson persuaded Rev. Busher and others to recognize the church's Methodist roots and call the new congregation what it really was, a United Methodist Church. Rev. Johnson became the founding and first pastor of the Easter Hill United Methodist Church.
In 1956 land was purchased at 39th and Cutting Blvd., and on December 25, 1957 the first worship service was held in the newly built Easter Hill United Methodist Church. Pastor Johnson served Easter Hill until June of 1959.
Rev. Booker Anderson served Easter Hill from 1959 until 1969. Under his leadership, Easter Hill became known as a social justice church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists spoke, held civil rights rallies and community meetings.
Between 1969 and 1990 the following pastors faithfully served Easter Hill: Rev. Dr. A. Edward Bell, 1969 to 1971; Rev. Amos Cambridge, Rev. Max Brown and Rev. David Houston, 1971 to 1973; Rev. King, 1973 to 1977; Rev. Ronald E. Swisher, 1977 to 1990; Rev. Dorothy Williams, Rev. Frederick G. Gray and Rev. Reginald Nichols were a part of Easter Hill’s Ministry in the early nineties; Rev. Phillip Lawson, 1992 to 2003; Easter Hill has also produced three seminarians who have been called to ministry in the United Methodist Church - Rev. Billye Austin, Rev. Dr. Antonia Jones-Bryant and Rev. Carol Estes.
In 1995 Easter Hill celebrated its 45th Anniversary; opened a thrift store in 1998; and The Family Life Center was offering health screening, parenting classes, senior information and computer classes.
Rev. Billye Austin, a member since 1988, was appointed as the first Associate Pastor in 1998 and Pastor in 2003. Rev. Austin continues Easter Hill’s legacy of spiritually-based Social Justice Ministries. Her ministry goals are to stress the importance of every member, empower members and initiate succession planning and training of the next generation of members as leaders at Easter Hill and in the community.
Read the full length Easter Hill History.
Between 1969 and 1990 the following pastors faithfully served Easter Hill: Rev. Dr. A. Edward Bell, 1969 to 1971; Rev. Amos Cambridge, Rev. Max Brown and Rev. David Houston, 1971 to 1973; Rev. King, 1973 to 1977; Rev. Ronald E. Swisher, 1977 to 1990; Rev. Dorothy Williams, Rev. Frederick G. Gray and Rev. Reginald Nichols were a part of Easter Hill’s Ministry in the early nineties; Rev. Phillip Lawson, 1992 to 2003; Easter Hill has also produced three seminarians who have been called to ministry in the United Methodist Church - Rev. Billye Austin, Rev. Dr. Antonia Jones-Bryant and Rev. Carol Estes.
In 1995 Easter Hill celebrated its 45th Anniversary; opened a thrift store in 1998; and The Family Life Center was offering health screening, parenting classes, senior information and computer classes.
Rev. Billye Austin, a member since 1988, was appointed as the first Associate Pastor in 1998 and Pastor in 2003. Rev. Austin continues Easter Hill’s legacy of spiritually-based Social Justice Ministries. Her ministry goals are to stress the importance of every member, empower members and initiate succession planning and training of the next generation of members as leaders at Easter Hill and in the community.
Read the full length Easter Hill History.
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