36th and Grove, 1916 2

The Golden Gate Congregational Church was begun in 1881 by Rev. William Cooke. It later became the Fourth Congregational Church, then Calvary Congregational Church.

Cooke (the father of aviator Weldon Cooke) started a Sunday school, and then in 1881, the church was organized. The congregation met in an old school house; when the school board wanted to use the lot for a bigger building, they purchased a lot at 34th and Adeline and moved the building. 1

Around 1893, the church started being called Fourth Congregational Church.

In 1902, they sold the property to the United Brethren Church and purchased new property at 36th and Grove (now MLK).

In 1915, they changed the name to Calvary Congregational Church.

Pastor Years
Rev. William Cooke 1876-1893
Rev. James B. Eddie 1893-1894
Rev. Oramel W. Lucas 1895-1898
Rev. Alfred Bailey 1898-1904
Rev. Frederick H. Maar 1905-1911
Rev. Benjamin L. Brittin 1911-1912
Rev. Alfred J. Kennedy 1912-1914
Rev. Royal (Roy) H. Campbell 1914-1917
Rev. Charles Sydney Price 1917-1919
Rev. W.A. Schwimley 1920-1922
Rev. W.J. Thompson 1923-1925
Rev. Allen R. Goozee 1926-1927
Rev. Robert B. Shaw 1927-1928
Rev. Barton C. Supplee 1929
Rev. J.R. Shoemaker 1930-1932
Rev. Cyril M. Hicks 1933-1935

192736th and Grove. 1912 Sanborn excerpt

The last newspaper references to the church are in 1936. By the 1951 Sanborn, the building on 36th St. was Evergreen Baptist Church.

Links and References

  1. Historical Sketch of Fourth Congregational Oakland Tribune January 17, 1912
  2. Calvary Congregational Is Busy Oakland Tribune September 17, 1916