1921 - Rev. Hayes Farish
Late in 1921, the Woodland Christian Church was having trouble raising sufficient funds to finish construction of this church building. Rev. E. T. Edmonds, believing that the church needed younger, more energetic leadership resigned.
The Pulpit Committee found a Yale man, who had been a Reserve Army Officer during World War I to deliver a trial sermon – and that would prove sufficient. On January 1, 1922 Rev. Hayes Farish accepted the congregation’s call to become Woodland’s pastor. At that time the church had about 200 members, no office, no phone, very few records, a budget of about $5,000 and a building program that had stalled.
Farish went to work. After consulting with other religious leaders he began reorganizing the church, and presented an even more ambitious vision for the congregation. The $75,000 building campaign, which was at a standstill, was not abandoned, but actually grew to $102,000 under Farish’s new plan – a gigantic undertaking for a small congregation with limited means. To make the new facilities possible, ten members mortgaged their homes to raise enough cash for work to begin. At that time, having facilities to support religious education was the goal of many churches. Visitors came from far and near to see Farish’s plan for a modern church school take shape.
Farish would go on to organize a Community Training School for religious education with 12 teachers and 190 students enrolled from various churches.
The Pulpit Committee found a Yale man, who had been a Reserve Army Officer during World War I to deliver a trial sermon – and that would prove sufficient. On January 1, 1922 Rev. Hayes Farish accepted the congregation’s call to become Woodland’s pastor. At that time the church had about 200 members, no office, no phone, very few records, a budget of about $5,000 and a building program that had stalled.
Farish went to work. After consulting with other religious leaders he began reorganizing the church, and presented an even more ambitious vision for the congregation. The $75,000 building campaign, which was at a standstill, was not abandoned, but actually grew to $102,000 under Farish’s new plan – a gigantic undertaking for a small congregation with limited means. To make the new facilities possible, ten members mortgaged their homes to raise enough cash for work to begin. At that time, having facilities to support religious education was the goal of many churches. Visitors came from far and near to see Farish’s plan for a modern church school take shape.
Farish would go on to organize a Community Training School for religious education with 12 teachers and 190 students enrolled from various churches.