Highlights of the Bella Vista Church, UMC

           In 1950, a relative of Cliff Cooper helped build the Bella Vista Church. The first church service, in the new sanctuary, was held on August 12, 1951, and the consecration service was held on October 21, 1951. Bishop James C. Baker conducted it, with the assistance of Rev. Roy Carlson as pastor.

            Bella Vista had two parent churches which were Belvedere and Euclid Heights. They merged in 1944 and became one congregation. The Belvedere property was sold, and repairs were made on the Euclid property. Thus, many of the Bella Vista active leaders and church families came from Euclid Heights Church.

            Faye La Bare remembers that there were so many kids in Sunday school that they did not have enough rooms for all the classes. There were classes in the hallway by the church, classes in the front chapel and she thought even on the balcony. She has a picture of the Sunday school and there are lots and lots of kids.

            Rev. Fred Coots, Jr. separated the M.Y.F into two groups; a senior high group and a college age group. Roy and Doris Spradlin were directors of the two groups. Later, Bill and Fern Pieratt became the directors.

            During the spring of 1957, with the help of the Methodist Church Board of National Missions, pledges of $52,000 were secured toward the building of an Educational and Recreational Building. With funds secured the architects drew up the plans for the Educational Building. The regional representative of the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co., Mr. J.A. Rachel, arranged for the refinancing of the church debt and they built in anticipation of the pledges received. The Education Building was consecrated on October 19, 1958.

            Rev. George Nishikawa was assigned to Bella Vista to assist Rev. Charles Mac Gregor. While Rev. Nishikawa was at the Bella Vista Church, the Church sponsored Harry Meier’s family from Indonesia. Referring to World War II, when Japan occupied Indonesia, Harry said, “I can love George because George loves me.” Much later, the United Methodist Women arranged for a singing group to be the entertainment for a dinner fund raiser and later learned the singers were the daughters of the Meier family.

            Later, Rev. Nishikawa was appointed pastor of Sage Granada Methodist Church in Alhambra. We missed his sense of humor when he left Bella Vista. Rev. Nishikawa later returned to officiate at the wedding of Aileen Tanimoto and Stacey Matsuura. He also led the memorial service of Art Tanimoto at the Bella Vista Church and later, he shared the service for Sarah Tanimoto with Rev. Mamie Ko.

            The Methodist Churches sponsored nineteen kids, from 18 to 19 years old on a work tour to Hamburg, Germany. They were to help by doing some landscaping but after arriving in Hamburg, they found that the job was done, so they volunteered at the local hospital. They lived with church families; two kids to a family. Several kids from Bella Vista were included; Faye (Cooper) La Bare, Diana Kreutzer and Kay Lynn Mac Gregor.

Rev. Charles Mac Gregor and his wife traveled with them. One morning, when Rev Mac Gregor awoke, he found that the lady of the house was so thoughtful that she had put shoe polish on his swede shoes (oh, well, so much for neat shoes).

In February of 1968, members of another church transferred their membership to Bella Vista. Their former church was called Eastmont Methodist. Those included were; Lorene Clinton, Rosamond French, Charlotte Stewart, and Lula Orme.

            In the 1970’s, John and Mohini Elizabeth Griffen, who are natives of Pakistan, and their two sons attended our church. We were blessed both then and now because they are still attending our church. At that time, the parents were employed at White Memorial Hospital.

            In April of 1987, the first room at the top of the stairs of the Educational Building was dedicated in memorial to Bertha Cunningham; the room where she had taught classes for over 26 years.

            In the summer of 1987, the Methodist churches sponsored a trip to Australia. Two of our boys, Mark Ortiz, and Rockwell Griffen, traveled on this tour. Frances Ortiz was assigned to travel as a chaperone.

            Rev. Don Lanz worked diligently to finally get the social hall built. Dr. Charles Emerson. taught the senior high class. When he passed away, his students wanted the social hall to be named Emerson Hall. But, by the time the hall was built, most of his students had moved away. Dr. Emerson’s lovely wife, Eleanor, continued teaching Sunday school. When Emerson Hall was dedicated, there were twenty-three youths that sang in the choir. They were known as “The Chancellettes.” At the Beverly Hospital, there is a ward named after Dr. Emerson, “Emerson Ward” with his picture displayed at the entrance.

            When Rev. Marilyn Huntington was pastor there were several stained-glass windows dedicated in memory of loved ones.

            We are grateful to all those who have faithfully served as chairpersons, committee members, lay persons, choir members, teachers, musicians, and work teams. Our thanks to the United Methodist Women for all their fund-raising activities for missions. Because of you Bella Vista had hope and a future. God Bless You All.

Edith Schatz

Note: Bella Vista merged with Monterey Park First Church to become Shepherd of the Hills, UMC in 1995.