Copperopolis

Congregational Church

The Congregational Church is as fine an example of Gothic Revival architecture as exists in the Mother Lode. Built of brick in 1866, the lot upon which it stands was purchased the previous September from a Mr. J. M. Pike. The Reverend M. A. Starr assisted in raising the $12,000 needed for the construction, and also served as the first minister. The church was dedicated on June 23 of 1866, by the Reverend Mr. Beckwith of San Francisco. When the mines began to slow down, the church experienced a drop in membership and the building was leased to the Presbyterians for several years. It was used once again by the Congregational Church from 1874 to 1895. Following several years of vacancy, the Mineral Lodge of the I.O.O.F. purchased the building in 1903 for use as their lodge room. It remained thus until it was given to the community of Copperopolis in 1939.