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CC SA-BY Our Oakland

Melrose Methodist Church was a church at 5251 Wentworth Avenue at 54th Avenue. It was organized in 1907 (before Melrose was annexed by Oakland in 1909) and active to at least 1969. The cornerstone of the building was laid August 14, 1910. It was constructed in 1910 2 and dedicated February 12, 1911. 3

The 1910 building replaced an earlier chapel, dedicated in 1907. 4 Edward C. Welch, 1 L. N. Peck, W. J. Marcum, L. A. Raleigh, and W. T. Tenney were the founding trustees. 5 The church was also known as Melrose Methodist Episcopal Church. It appears as Wentworth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in a few early references. 6

1930 adCC SA-BY Our Oakland

SF Call 1910 2

Pastor Years Notes
J. O. Duncan 1907-1910 ref
Robertson Burley 1910-1914 ref
Richard Rodda (?) 1915 ref
W. C. Robins 1920-1923 ref
George W. Saywell 1923-1925 ref
William E. Kirby 1926-1933 ref
Daniel W. Stevens 1933-1935 ref
Clarence E. Flynn 1935 ref (acting)
Carl L. Bent 1936-1947 ref
Edwin R. Freeman 1948-1952 ref
Rev. Bawden c.1958-c.1963 ref
Rev. Crawford ?  
Victor I. Matson, Jr. 1967 ref

Present Day

The building may have been sold in 2002. (ref) The location is currently home to the Word of Faith Church. Word of Faith has been there since at least 2011; it's not clear if they're still active.

Links and References

  1. Funeral of E. C. Welch Held From M. E. Church Oakland Tribune March 3, 1914
  2. Melrose Methodist Church Being Built San Francisco Call July 29, 1910
  3. New Melrose Church Dedicated For Worship San Francisco Call February 13, 1911
  4. Dedicate New Chapel San Francisco Call March 5, 1907
  5. Cornerstone Laid for New Church in Melrose San Francisco Call August 15, 1910
  6. Methodist Episcopal Oakland Tribune November 13, 1909
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