|
|
REV. CHARLES S. (C.S.) UZZELL PASTOR AT GOLDEN'S METHODIST CHURCH, 1879 - 1881 |
History Home | Pastors and Ministers Home | Senior Pastors Early Ministries | Golden Ministries | Other Ministries
Related Information | Bibliography
| Early Ministries... Rev. Charles S. Uzzell and his brother, Rev. Thomas A., were both Methodist-Episcopal pastors in the 1870s and early 1880's.1 Reverands Thomas and Charles were the founders of Methodism in Leadville, Colorado. The Uzzell brothers organized a society in Leadville on February 1, 1878. Within a year there were 100 members and 44 probationers!1 At some point Charles was called to Greeley, Colorado,3 while Thomas stayed on at Leadville. Thomas became known as 'The Fighting Parson' of Leadville after he drove squatters off the land on which the church was to be built.2 |
 Rev. Charles S. Uzzell |
Golden Ministries
Rev. John R. Eads, who had been re-appointed to the
Golden Methodist-Eposcopal Church for 1879, left in November of that year
when called to a church in Kansas City.3
Presiding Elder Rev. B. F. Crary then called on Rev. Charles Uzzell to
come to Golden from his work in Greeley. Rev. Crary asked Uzzell to...
"fill Brother Eads place... as best he could." 3Rev. Uzzell wrote that, "The work began with interest at once. It was plainly seen, the only hope was a revival of religion. God answers prayer and his faithful ones began to call on Him and the work began. For nine weeks the meetings ran both day and night. The Lord knows how many were converted and sanctified." 3During this period, 38 persons were baptized, 64 became members in full-connection, and 83 joined on probation. Eight more members were received later in the year! It was called 'an actual revitalized faith in the reality of God'.3 Rev. Vern L. Klingman's "Before Organization to 1880", written in 1949, states that Rev. Uzzell remained in Golden until July, 1883.3 However, the inside left page of the 1909 50th Anniversary Celebration brochure states that Rev. William H. Greene served Golden from 1881 through 1883.4 The inside left page of the 1903 Washington Avenue Dedication brochure states that "The church was enlarged under the pastorate of W. H. Greene in 1882."5Klingman's document claims the church was enlarged under the guidance of Rev. Uzzell.3 Regardless of whether Rev. Charles Uzzell served until July of 1881 or through July of 1883, it is clear that he was an inspiring leader and a true man of God. |
| Other Ministries At some point in the 1880's, both Reverands Charles S. amd Thomas A. Uzzell left the Methodist-Episcopal Church to become pastors in the Congregational Church. Rev. Thomas Uzzell founded the Tabernacle Congregational Church in Denver. He would later involve himself in numerous Denver civic matters.1 Rev. Charles Uzzell pastored the Morgan Park Congregational Church in Chicago6 before again moving west. Charles served as interim pastor at the First Congregational Church of Los Angelas in 1887-1888.7 |
| Related Information Reverands Charles S. and Thomas A. Uzzell are descendants of Thomas "The Huguenot" Uzzell.8 Thomas "The Huguenot" -- also known as "French Thomas" -- came to America on a small private ship in 1736. It is alledged that the small party on board included a prominent figure in Methodist history -- founder John Wesley, and that Wesley converted Uzzell, then an Anglican Protestant, during the course of the long voyage.8 Uzzell settled in Virginia and raised an extensive family. One of his grandsons was Captain Thomas Uzzell.8 Captain Uzzell owned land near Smithfield, Virginia, and he gave a plot to the Methodist-Episcopal Church which became known as Uzzell Methodist. The current church facility was built in 1888. Services are still held at this small rural white-frame church.8 The church operated as a religious institution before any structure existed, however. Uzzell held services in his home, and was said to have been a friend of Bishop Francis Asbury.8 |
| Bibliography | ||
| 1 | The Methodist, Evangelical, and United Brethren Churches in the Rockies: 1850-1976 | |
|
J. Allen Templin, Allen D. Breck, and Martin Rist, Editors Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church. 1977. p 67. |
||
| 2 | ibid, p 61. | |
| 3 | Before Organization to 1880 | |
|
Rev. Vern L. Klingman Archives, Golden First United Methodist Church September 18, 1949. see 1879-1880. |
||
| 4 | Archives, Golden First United Methodist Church | |
|
50th Anniversary Celebration Brochure Heritage Sunday, July 18, 1909 URL: http://goldenfirstumc.org/history/heritagesundays/y1909/b1909m1.htm |
||
| 5 | Archives, Golden First United Methodist Church | |
|
Washington Avenue Church Dedication Brochure Dedication Sunday, July 26, 1903 URL: http://goldenfirstumc.org/history/dedications/y1903/d1903ml.htm |
||
| 6 | First Congregational Church of Los Angelas | |
|
http://server3003.freeyellow.com/habel/First%20Church/The%20beginning/Third_and_Hill
Note: The above URL is no longer served. |
||
| 7 | First Congregational Church of Los Angelas | |
|
http://server3003.freeyellow.com/habel/First%20Church/The%20beginning/High%20Street%20Church
Note: The above URL is no longer served. |
||
| 8 | Online Genealogical Resources | |
|
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~paday/dobbers/uzzell/pafn01.htm Last checked: March 30, 2005 |
||
Golden First UMC Home
History Home | Pastors and Ministers Home | Senior Pastors Golden, Colorado's First United Methodist Church
Last Revised: March 30, 2005.