Extending roots in the community: Longtime San Mateo church celebrates 100th anniversary

Having experienced ebbs and flows in the size of the congregation and even survived a fire bombing in 1966 that destroyed much of the original church structure, the church and its congregation have sustained the institution through ups and downs to reach this landmark, said Bussey. So in planning a celebration weekend set to begin Friday with an opening worship and extend into Saturday and Sunday with an anniversary luncheon and two Sunday services, Bussey and the church she leads has a lot to commemorate.

“I think that’s just really a tribute to the heart of the people, that they love this church and they love God and it wasn’t going to go away on their watch,” he said. “That’s really a beautiful thing.”

She said the church’s congregation met in individual homes and at times at the Congregational Church of San Mateo in its early years, until it was given a land grant at the site where the Martin Luther King Community Center now stands at 725 Monte Diablo Ave. in 1927. The pastor of the church and its members built the church there, and when it received another land grant moved the structure it to its current location one block away by rolling it there on telephone poles, she said. After the church was badly damaged by suspected arson in 1966, Bussey said the congregation rebuilt the structure themselves.

“They didn’t have a lot but boy did they build a lot with what they had,” she said.

Bussey said the church’s membership reached its height in the 1960s and 1970s, but has since declined as the rising cost of living has drawn residents farther and farther away from San Mateo in search of lower housing costs. Though the church was founded by African-American residents, Bussey said it has always been ecumenical and opened its doors and services to people of all backgrounds.

In the 10 years since she became the church’s first female pastor, Bussey said she’s been focused on rebuilding the congregation to include more young families and those who might not have considered becoming part of a fellowship before. She said the congregation has grown to 60 members of all ages and is hoping to welcome even more in the years to come.

Though the church has been vocal on social issues, it has also extended its reach into its community through a variety of ministries, which Bussey said channel the congregation’s skills and talents into solutions for the challenges community members are facing. She said the church has offered a math tutorial allowing younger students to work with high school students on schoolwork as well as a feeding ministry offering food to the community the second Saturday of every month.

Bussey added the church has long maintained strong relationships with the San Mateo Police Department, school districts and city and county officials as well as ties to other faith organizations as part of their efforts to serve the community and be a voice for others.

“The broader community is also a part of us,” she said. “We don’t do ministry just to draw people into our fellowship, we do it because we want to be a blessing to the community we serve.”

As she looks to what’s ahead for the church, Bussey has her sights set on exploring how the church can help address the housing crisis, especially as it relates to the challenges teachers face in remaining in the community. Because the church owns two properties that could be developed, Bussey is hoping future conversations with city and county officials will shed light on the funding that might be available to build affordable housing on them.

Now in her 20th year as an ordained minister, Bussey said she is grateful for the opportunity to serve as pastor of the church during its 100th anniversary. In reflecting on the care church members took to introduce her to the community when she first started as pastor, Bussey said she has come to love the church and its role as a community hub. Acknowledging her appointments as pastor of the church last one year, Bussey said she hopes to be a part of the church’s work for years to come and see the congregation enlivened by people of all ages and backgrounds.

“I want to see all the generations in full bloom,” she said. “And I know it’s coming, I can see it now, the work of the last 10 years budding and beginning to flower and I’m hoping to be able to stay around to really see them blossom.”

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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