El Dorado County Federated Church

1031 Thompson Way
Placerville

The Historic Church was built in 1851 to provide a place of worship for the gold miners of Hangtown.  A Methodist pastor erected the church on five acres of land donated for the church and a cemetery.  The timbers for the church were hand sawn or hewn from native Ponderosa pine, the rafters were poles, the siding came around the Horn, and the bell was salvaged from the sailing ship “Staffordshire”, abandoned in San Francisco.

A new brick church replaced the little wooden structure in 1861.  The original wooden building was moved next door by its new owner who slid it downhill onto a stone foundation.  Over many decades as a residence, additions were made to the wooden building, including a large covered porch and a second story.

In the late 1920,’s the property on which the old wooden building stood was purchased and donated back to its original owners (now the Federated Church).  The building was remodeled for use as classrooms and offices.

Even after the new church was built in 1953, the original buildings continued in use.  In 1957, to provide funds for the new education center, those buildings were sold.  The little wooden church was rediscovered in 1961, when those buildings were demolished. The Historic Church was dismantled piece by piece and was reassembled in its present location.  It was donated to the Federated Church in 1976.  The Historic Church building was completely restored in 1996 and now serves as a small chapel, meeting room and classroom space.