| Sources: A history written in the 1960s; member interviews
"Ministers who were officially installed as Pastors of the First
Congregational Church of San Francisco."
Timothy Dwight Hunt - 1849-1855
Served as the City Chaplain until this church was organized.
Was selected as the church's first Pastor at
the organization of the First Church. After five years he resigned
to the East Coast.
Isaac H. Brayton - 1855
Edward S. Lacy - 1856-1865
Served the church eleven years, but had to take long leaves of absence
near the end because of seriously failing health.
John C. Holbrook - 1859
Kinsey Twining - 1864 - 1865
F. B. Wheeler - 1865 - 1866
A. L. Stone - 1866-1880
Impairment of speech forced retirement after fourteen years of successful
service to this church. He was the Founder of the Pacific School
of Religion.
Charles Dana Barrows - 1882-1890
He was able to infuse the public with inspiration and loyalty.
Worked unstintingly with little remuneration. After 10 years of service
he took a much-needed vacation to his native state. Never returned.
Later word camethat he had died in a mental hospital.
S. M. Freeland - 1891
E. B. Webb - 1892
Charles Oliver Brown - 1892-1896
On the surface appearance, was successful in the ministry for four
years. Found to be "questionable" in character. Brought "scandal"
to the church. Church members divided in the pros and cons - he later
admitted guilt of his accusers' claim about him. Because of this,
church was closed for five months, with intent of selling property and
going to another part of the city and trying to rebuild.
George C. Adams - 1896-1910
Served for fourteen of the most trying years of the history of the
church. Brought the church "back into the fold" after former turmoil,
only to be faced with putting it all back together again after the earthquake
of 1906.
Madison C. Peters - 1910 - 1911
Charles F. Aked - 1911-1916
After five years of service to the church, he asked for leave of absence
to go to Europe on a "goodwill" mission with Henry Ford. They hoped
to bring about an early "peace" in First World War. He had to be
gone longer than expected and he asked for an extension on his leave indefinitely,
with pay. He also sent in a separate letter, his resignation, to
be used only if they voted to not extend "without pay" his leave.
A prominent member of the Deacons chose to present only the letter of resignation
for vote. With reluctance they "accepted" the resignation.
Upon discovery of the deceit of the Deacon they tried to get enough votes
to have him return to our pulpit. Two/thirds vote required could
never be reached. The members were split on the subject.
Byron H. Stauffer - 1917 - 1918
Came from Toronto, Canada. Found before him in San Francisco
a very difficult task. Sermon topics that went over big in Toronto
didn't make a ripple in San Francisco. Late in the year he had an
invitation to Winnipeg. He presented his resignation. Left
San Francisco one week after his last sermon on December 15.
J. B. Silcox - 1918 - 1919
James Logan Gordon - 1919-1926
At his call, was the oldest minister who had yet served the church.
Possessed of a buoyancy and enterprise of youth. Excellent health
and enduring strength. He used a "new" method of approach to enthuse
the people. By laying aside the usual format of lecturing, he held
services called "Question Drawer". Selecting from current events,
questions of interest to the general public, he gave the religious and
moral implications in the answer. Resigned the ministry of this church
at the age of 68 and went into retirement. Attendance numbered in
the thousands almost continually.
Chauncey J. Hawkins - 1927-1930
The first native-born Californian to serve the church. Brought
increased membership (about 125 each year). His morning services
recorded around 800 and the evening services brought 1000 souls to worship
in this church. On returning from a vacation, his car rolled over
a steep embankment in the mountains. He met a tragic death.
The congregation was sorely grieved at the loss.
Kerrison Juniper - 1931-1933
Unable to rally the constituency or arrest the deflationary factors
that had set in. Differences arose between him and officers of the
church and he closed his Pastorate after fifteen months.
Jason Noble Pierce - 1933-1947
Warmly accepted. Church finances had shrunk to precarious state.
In spite of his charm he had no concern or interest in balancing a budget.
Church was "saved" financially by merging with Temple Methodist who had
met a financial crisis. Methodist Pastor co-worked with Dr. Pierce
until temperamental differences beset them it was finally decided to dissolve
the union. In 1943 Dr. Noble Pierce suffered failure in coherence
of connected thought, but it was slow and gradual in decline until in the
summer of '47 it became impossible for him to carry-on. He rendered
his resignation.
James Gordon Gilkey, Jr. - 1948-1949
A former Navy Chaplain and son of well-known Congregational Minister
in Massachusetts, he felt could do "great" things if he had a "large staff"
of his own choosing and a refurbished plant. Resentments put strike
one against him when he dismissed all the old staff. Ran the church
deeply into debt and resigned within four months. Left San Francisco to
take up a position with a soap corporation in an eastern state, leaving
the church $20,000 in debt and "no money in sight".
James H. Woodruff - 1949
Was Co-Minister with Gilkey. Automatically and immediately became
acting Pastor upon Gilkey's leaving. The load was heavy. He
left the church four months later.
William E. McCormack - 1949-1959
He carried the church through years of inertia, as well as spasmodic
pulsations of "joiner fever". During the 50's there was a surge of
"joining the church because it is the thing to do" attitude. Dr.
McCormack seemed well able to fill the need.
Gail Cleland - 1953-1972
Associate minister. Minister emeritus. Bible instructor.
Leader in all Christian endeavors. Charming person.
Ernest Stillwell Heeren - 1960-1961
Vere V. Loper - 1961-1962 (Interim)
Harold T. Janes - 1962-1965
Served the church during a revolutionary period when experimental drugs
dominated society. Membership
and attendance was haphazard. Died of cerebral hemorrhage while
still in Pastorate of this church.
William E. McCormack - 1965-1966 (Interim)
James Clark Brown - 1966 - 1980
A loving, inspirational minister during controversial times in San
Francisco. Rev. Brown is still remembered fondly by many long-time
members.
Brita Gill - 1977-1980
Associate Minister. First Woman Minister at First Congregational
Church.
Otto E. Sommer - 1980-1981 (Interim)
A Conference Minister from Maine
Lois M. Powell - 1981 - 1982 (Interim)
James Claitor - 1982 - 1986
Dr. Richard C. Norberg - 1986-1987 (Interim)
Judith Favor, Paul Chaffee, and Roger Ridgeway --1987-1988
A one-year experiment in team ministry provided interesting insights
from a variety of interesting ministers.
Roy Nyren - 1988 - 1995
Led the congregation in becoming the second "open and affirming" church
in California, and the 19th in the UCC. Also provided pastoral caire
through the loss of several members through the height of the AIDS crisis.
Jim Lawer - 1994-1997
Introduced novel worship services on Sunday mornings, and built a foundation
to discuss the church's future.
Robert McGrath - 1997 (Interim)
Catherine Bohrman - 1998 - 2001
Brought the church through the daring decision to sell the building
and relocate to another site in San Francisco. A great sermon-giver
and guitar player, too!
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