Darrington United Methodists celebrate 100 years of service

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, February 11, 2007

DARRINGTON – Nearly a century ago, one of the pastors of Darrington United Methodist Church cared for the sick during a flu epidemic and spent half his time ministering in logging camps.

The work of Pastor Ray Owen, who headed the church in 1918 and 1919, is reflected in the spirit of church members today who help each other when they need it, members say.

“They stay connected to each other,” Pastor Sandi McCaulley said Sunday.

That’s how the church, Darrington’s oldest, lasted long enough to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Sunday, she said.

About 100 people filled the church’s small A-frame sanctuary Sunday afternoon for a service and a reception to mark the centennial.

Four of the church’s former pastors returned for the event.

“I’m glad to see that some of the old faces – or some of the long-lasting faces – are still here,” former pastor George Brown said, drawing a big laugh from the congregation. Brown served as an interim pastor at the church for four months in 1998.

Bishop Edward Paup of the Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church made the trip up from Seattle for the event. Paup is the bishop for Washington, Oregon, Idaho and part of Alaska.

In his sermon, Paup honored church members, past and present, for their work over the 100 years, and encouraged the congregation to have another event next year to mark 101.

“Have a celebration and envision the future – what’s it going to be like?” he said.

Actually, this year marks 101, McCaulley said. The bishop wasn’t able to visit last year, so the church had a kickoff event then to mark the beginning of a year of celebration.

“This whole year has been our centennial year,” said McCaulley, who has been pastor since 1998. “This was the capstone.”

The church began meeting in homes in 1904, then built a wooden church just south of where the current one stands at 765 Emens Ave. The old building was in use until 1965, when the current sanctuary was built.

In 1906, the church had 16 members. Today, it has 39 regular members and about 25 former members and others who still participate in church activities, McCaulley said.

Helen Burt said those numbers have held mostly steady for the 30 years she’s been a member.

“It’s a really unique congregation,” Burt said. “All the churches work together.”

The eight churches in town pitch in on charity work, funeral dinners and a summertime Worship in the Park event, among other activities, members said.

Darrington United Methodist does work in schools, runs a food bank and helped create the town’s senior center, McCaulley said.

The close-knit nature of the small town of 1,000 is reflected within the congregation, she said. Whenever a member is sick or injured, someone is always there to call on them.

Organist Marie Kinney, 86, said when she was laid up for 12 weeks after shoulder surgery, she was brought dinner every night.

“That’s what they do,” she said. “It’s really a very friendly church. I’ve never seen one like it.”

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.