Bardsdale United Methodist Church

Bardsdale United Methodist Church is a historic church located at 1498 Bardsdale Avenue[2] in the unincorporated community of Bardsdale, California, in Ventura County. It is south of the Santa Clara River approximately 3 miles (5 km) from Fillmore.

Bardsdale Methodist Episcopal Church
Location1498 Bardsdale Ave.,
Bardsdale, California
Coordinates34°22′17″N 118°55′59″W
Built1898
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.86001986[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 28, 1986

Built in 1898, as Bardsdale Methodist Episcopal Church, this carpenter Gothic structure with a 60 ft (18 m) bell tower and high-peaked arches has long been a center of community life in Bardsdale. The town's namesake, Thomas R. Bard, donated the land for construction of the church and parsonage. He also donated funds to help purchase two large stained glass windows installed in the north and west walls.[3]

When the church opened, in April 1898, the Los Angeles Times reported on its dedication:

"The Bardsdale Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated last Sunday by Dr. G.W. White of Los Angeles. The building cost $2550, will seat 350 persons, and has a fine basement fitted for social gatherings. There was $550 remaining due on the building, which was subscribed Sunday morning."[4]

On April 23, 1968, the Methodist Church was merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church.[5] The name was then changed to Bardsdale United Methodist Church.

A portion of the ceiling fell on a parishioner during a service in 1982, leading to an extensive renovation. The renovation and restoration work included materials purchased from a church in Los Angeles that had closed in 1982. The materials salvaged from that church included stained-glass windows, an oak chancel, chandeliers, pews, marble facing around the interior doors, a hand-carved pulpit, lectern and communion rail.[3]

The church also features a Schoenstein pipe organ that was purchased in 1986, with $60,000 donated by parishioners.[3] In a tradition dating back to the mid-1960s, the Bardsdale Chancel Choir performs a free holiday vesper program during the Christmas season.[6]

The Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board designated the clapboard church County Landmark #50 in 1979, calling it "the only example of carpenter Gothic in the Fillmore-Bardsdale area."[3][7] The Gothic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bardsdale United Methodist Church
  3. Janet Bergamo (1991-02-08). "Landmarks: County Historical Sites; Bardsdale Church Anchors Community". Los Angeles Times (Ventura County Edition).
  4. "Ventura County". Los Angeles Times. 1898-04-17.
  5. The New York Times, April 24, 1968, p. 26.
  6. "Ventura County Weekend; Holidays". Los Angeles Times (Ventura County Edition). 1995-12-14.
  7. Cultural Heritage Board. "Ventura County Landmark Map" Archived 2015-10-16 at the Wayback Machine County of Ventura Planning Division Accessed 1 November 2013
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