Celebrating 100 Years

Post Earthquake

Our history begins on June 24th, 1907, when Rev. W.E. Dugan organized the Ingleside Sabbath School. Assisted by a missionary, Miss Laura Sawhill, Rev. Dugan enrolled 30 students in a storeroom beneath the Robinson Apartments at 505 Faxon Avenue. Rev. W.E. Gordon and Rev. D.A. Russell conducted Bible School and worship services at this location.

On March 6, 1910, a new church facility was dedicated at our present location, (Ocean & Granada), with Rev. W.E. Gordon presiding and on March 10, 1910, the Ingleside congregation was officially organized with 39 charter members.

From 1912 to 1921, Rev. W.R. McKnight provided noteworthy leadership as Pastor, excelling in his pioneer work, reaching many new families and youth.

Tragedy and Rebuilding

On September 21, 1920, tragedy struck as the church building was totally destroyed by fire. To quote from historical documents: "Meanwhile, services continued in a tent in various locations with the interest and support of the entire community. We enlisted a building project to construct a new church facility and rendered a real community service center that's socially responsible, inspirational and one that also provides religious education." Dr. J.W. English encouraged the larger project which seemed providently to promise, fulfillment of the dreams for community service, cherished by Rev. W.R. McKnight; dreams partially embodied in the gymnasium, built with his own hands. The new church building was designed by famed Bay Area architect Joseph Leonard, who appears to have come out of retirement in order to design the new building..

A $25,000 loan was granted from the Board of Extension and Home Missions, under the condition that the Ingleside community contribute an equal amount. September 16, 1921, groundbreaking for the new building began, with the call of Rev. Albert E. Kelly, D.D. To lead the revitalized church family into a new era of growth and service. The new facility was dedicated on April 8, 1923.

The years 1931 - 1935 marked a unique stage of existence for the Ingleside membership. A federated church was formed. The ministry of Ingleside was supported by mission funds, from The American Board of the United Presbyterian church and the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church USA. The two denominations co-existed under the pastorate of Rev. Herrick Lane, who maintained separate church rolls, but continued dual memberships. This adventure in the field of church federation did not prove successful, and by action of the United Presbyterian Church USA and the United Presbyterian Church, the federation was dissolved effective November 1, 1934. In 1935, the American Board assumed full responsibility and leadership under Rev. John Campbell. In 1940, Ingleside Presbyterian Church became self-supporting.

During World War II, many young men of Ingleside's congregation served in the Armed Forces, as well as, Ingleside was designated as an air raid shelter.

Post War

The 1950's brought a renewal program, begun by Rev. Dwight White and was successfully continued by Rev. Al Damon. The congregation welcomed many new families into the community by inviting all racial groups to become active in the church program. A high-point of this effort was the sponsorship of two families from overseas.

In 1965, Rev. Charles Washburn was called, and he creatively filled the Pastorate, establishing many new programs, such as the Child Observation Center and the Ingleside Senior Center.

A Time of Transition

The 1970's brought increased transition to the neighborhood. As the level of commitment from the community declined, the number of active members also declined drastically. Morale was low and the church building was in critical need of refurbishment. These events all led up to 1978, and one of the most crucial periods of the church history. With two active elders and two active members as the congregation, consideration was being given to dissolving the congregation and selling the property. At a time when almost no one felt Ingleside could be revived, a strong willed Clerk of Session, Dorcas Thomas and supply Pastor, Rev. Claude Kilgore, argued for and received more time to reverse the situation.

Revitalization

It as at this point, that Roland Gordon, a first-year seminarian was called to serve as Student Pastor. The Session adopted his visionary philosophy of "Service to God through service to Humanity". Roland brought a new level of rugged determination and faith to the struggling Ingleside Church Family. Roland has stated, that because of this life's experience of struggle with seemingly impossible situations, he had grown to believe the Word, "With God, all things are possible". Roland immediately understood the Ingleside situation was an opportunity for God to be glorified by His powerful movement through this small remnant,which had essentially nothing to hold on to, but faith.

Roland's strategy was as follows:

• To reassure the four active supports that "God Never Fails". We fail, but God never fails. For with God, "all things are possible", if we believe and act on our belief.
• To adopt a church motto, (II Corinthians 5:7) "We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight".
• To launch a fund raising campaign to paint the outside of the building. This gave the Church an immediate goal. Since most people measure progress by what they see, the painting of the building was a crucial project.
• To seek a core group congregation on which to build and from which to draw more elders and officers.

The congregation and community activities began to grow. By the middle of 1982, our membership had grown considerably in both active and support members.

A highpoint around this time was the Diamond Jubilee, 75th Anniversary Celebration, which occurred on June 27th, 1982. A number of outstanding persons received the "Ingleside Diamond Jubilee Award".

July 31, 1983 was another important date, as many outstanding persons from our Presbytery and from across the country, joined in celebrating the ordination of our now full-time Pastor, Rev. Roland Gordon. We must applaud Rev. Bert Tom and the Racial Ethnic Ministries Committee of the San Francisco Presbytery, the Presbytery and National Church for the important role they played in support of our redevelopment ministry.

In 1985, through the untiring efforts of Rev. Roland Gordon and Elders Carieta Cain and Earline Furlough, the Mayor's Office of Community Development, granted our Community Center the first of several grants, which enabled the church to refurbish the kitchen and dining areas, men's and women's restrooms, and install an elevator that is accessible to the disabled on all levels. Also, an anonymous gift further enabled us to install new carpeting, a new dishwasher, and a new sound system, and to repair and paint the entire building, both inside and out.

The building refurbishment continued into the 1990's with renovation of the gymnasium, which included a new floor, lighting, ventilation system, as well as a new roof. We were also able to upgrade the building's electrical system, and install a fire alarm and smoke detection system.

The Ingleside redevelopment ministry is proud of its three members who have answered the call to pastoral ministry, The Rev. Carieta Cain-Grizzell, Rev. Dr. Lorenzy Carlisle, and Rev. Dr. Charles Tinsley.

Our church programs include: Sunday School, Bible Study and Prayer Group, Youth Ministries, Peace and Justice, Evangelism, Stewardship, Communications, the Finance Committee, in addition to the Women's and Men's associations. Additional programs are year round basketball, Alcoholics Anonymous as well as Job Training and Placement Services to better serve the unemployed community. Rev. Gordon founded the Ingleside Community center in September of 1986. The Ingleside Community Center programs under the direction of Monique Margin, Executive Director, includes: after-school tutorial and Multimedia Computer Literacy; Workforce Development Services for youth, adults, juveniles, and ex-offenders. A weekly Food Pantry Distribution Program and Neighborhood Beautification Services to enhance San Francisco as a whole. More recently, the Computer Lab facility has begun a class to help Senior Citizens to become computer literate and learn online banking and effective communication skills for life-long sustainability.

In the fall of 1998, Rev. Gordon founded the Thad Brown Boys Academy. This program focused on developing African American males into outstanding leaders and role models. The program also includes initiatives to teach them everything from parenting skills to classical music. Recently, the academy was opened to include young girls, and the name changed to the Thad Brown Academy. The Thad Brown Academy is recognized by the San Francisco Board of Education.

Rev. Gordon headed up a project to clean up the "Phelan Loop," located a few blocks from Ingleside Presbyterian Church. This area was an eyesore to the neighborhood. Rev. Gordon recruited two hundred people to assist in a major clean up of the area. Upon completion of this project, "MUNI" provided a grant, which was used to plant a new lawn, and sixteen palm trees. The area was named, The Leonard (Lefty) Gordon World Peace Memorial Garden, in memory of this community treasure. It is hard to miss the Garden, because of the critical message displayed in large white letters, "LOVE IS THE ANSWER". The bus passenger seating area was enclosed and the ICC/Don Chee Loop Cafe was opened for business.

In January 2001, a Lilly Endowment funded nationwide study of local Church excellence identified Ingleside Presbyterian Church among the top three hundred outstanding Protestant Churches in the United States. The study looked for churches that nurtured the spirit, welcomed and yet challenged, both preached and more importantly, lived the "Good News". The study also looked for churches that not only take care of their members and the newcomer, but also reach out generously to the world. Rev. Gordon was also honored by the San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2003, as the "Distinguished Alumni", and Rev. Gordon's Alma Mater, Baldwin Wallace College selected him as the 2004 Alumni Merit Awardee.

Today

A spirit of family exists among the many persons of all races and backgrounds who fequent our programs and attend church services. There is truly something special about Ingleside Presbyterian Church: "The Lord is building this house" (Psalm 127:1).

The church cornerstone reveals the mindset:

"Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 3:11).

Thanks to Woody Labounty at Western Neighborhood Project for allowing us to use historic images from the WNP Website (www.oustidelands.org).