Show THE CHURCH in the year 1832 1852 the baptists baptista among the settlers along santa rosa creek up the peninsula north of san francisco on the california const determined to have religion organized a meeting rouse house services being held beh at thera helt home of one of the members the good folks flocked to the meetings in such numbers that the house in which the services were held soon became too small As no more commodious structure was available services servi cei wore later conducted under the protecting shelter of a large oak tree thus after a fash lou loil increased space which proved highly unsatisfactory when the weather was inclement was provi provided deJ it Is recorded that some claimed tills this tree edifice was open to both winter storms and summer cowf cow accordingly in 1873 the congregation felt justified in assuming the expense of constructing a new meeting house in the village of santa rosa A glant giant redwood tree which stood in the va valley of a nearby river was selected to supply the lumber from which to build the new house of worship I 1 commenting on tills this matter the su santa finta rosa republican recently printed the following it Is true that the story of tills this church building rune run only a half a century but it Is equally true that when jesus was born in BIth bethlehem lehem of judea the tree which furnished material for tills this church was a promising y young oung redwood this monstrous tree was 18 feet irr in diameter and a n d produced board feet of lumber part of the top damaged la in fall falling ifil was made into shingles the felled tree cut into logs was sawed into lumber transported to the site and the church duly erected and in n the words of its pastor it come came to pass that the honor of having a meeting house boue built from a single lice was given to a people who nho have always ays been among the leaders in advancing the kingdom K of god the complete building from foundation to roof but not including tile the floor however was built from the product of one massive member of the forest and lest you gain an erroneous impression concerning the size of tills this religious edifice let me tell you that the main auditorium measures a approximately 10 40 by CO feet it Is officially fici ally known as the first baptist church of santa rosa cal |