The Story of A Church in Silverdale

 The Silverdale Congregation began in 1905 with Rev. R. W. Carr as pastor. The early  church meetings were held in a local schoolhouse. In 1907 the church was  organized into The Silverdale Methodist Episcopal Church (SMEC) under  Rev. H. P. Waldron.  In October of 1907 a church building was acquired  for $450 borrowed from James Dingman and was located in what is now  known as Old Town Silverdale.  The church was simple but efficient with a  dirt road out in front.  In 1908, Rev. H. R. Merrill served and covered  the circuit (multiple churches including the SMEC) on horse or  walked…regardless of the weather.  The first female pastor was Rev.  Mary McKee from 1930 to 1935. Rev. McKee made vast improvements with the  old building including the construction of the parsonage next to the  church and the construction of the classroom wing. The original steeple  was remodeled and an entry porch was added in front of the church.  In  April of 1939 The Methodist Episcopal Church North, The Methodist  Protestant Church, and The Methodist Episcopal Church South, united to  become The Methodist Church.
 

The Silverdale Methodist Church continued to grow and by 1957, a site  for a new parsonage and new church building was acquired by the  congregation while Rev. J. Philip Porter was pastor.  Construction began  in March of 1960 under Rev. Paul G. Perkins.  The cost of the building  was $130,000 with $80,000 in debt for the new church building.  The  sanctuary was opened for worship in August of 1962 and seated 215  members.  A third push for building funds began in January of 1964 for  an extension that included the social hall, kitchen, crib nursery,  nursery rooms and a kindergarten room. The new facility was consecrated  by Bishop Everett W. Palmer on June 19th, 1964 with Rev.  A. C.  Sischmeier as the district superintendent.  The total membership in 1964  was 225 members with the church school enrollment at 349! On a national  scale in 1968 with Rev. William ‘Bill’ Ellington serving as pastor the  Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church came  together to form The United Methodist Church, and hence the name, Silverdale United Methodist Church.

In 1973 with Rev. Larry Eddings serving as pastor, a cash donation of  $23,000 from the Braendein’s family enabled the church to build the Ridgetop parsonage which today is now a Montessori Preschool. 

In 1978 the church building expanded to include the new Education Wing.   In 1985 under Rev. Edsel White, the construction of the Great Hall  (gym) was started. Rev. Sherman Snow served as pastor from 1986-1989  followed by Rev. Wally Snook who served for 13 years from 1989 to 2002.  In the fall of 2004 with Rev. Robert Rosas as pastor came the construction of the new kitchen addition in the social hall, the  addition in the social hall, the addition of the Narthex and remodel of  the sanctuary with new carpet and new pews. 

Rev. Cecilia Clemons served as pastor from July 2007 - June 2011. During  those years the congregation grew both spiritually, evangelically and  multi-culturally. 

Rev. Edward Denton came to Silverdale United Methodist Church in July of  2011. On Sunday July 3rd, 2011, the Silverdale United Methodist Church  and the Christian Bible Fellowship Church celebrated the joining of two  congregations.  He left SUMC in May 2016.   After a 40 year rest from SUMC, Rev. Larry Eddings served as the  interim Pastor.  Rev. Robert Rosas, another former pastor of SUMC served  for the month of July 2016.
 

On July 31, 2016 Silverdale United Methodist Church welcomed Rev. John Weston and his family.
 

May 7, 2023   A historical day when the people voted to change the church name to  Silverdale Community Church and affirm the move to join the Global  Methodist Church.  Also, the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church clergy and lay members voted to allow this  church to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.

 May 9, 2023  The Global Methodist Church accepted this church into its body of believers as Silverdale Community Church.
 

Stay tuned to see what God is doing here at this church in Silverdale!