GONZALES — The Gonzales Community Presbyterian Church is welcoming a new pastor into the fold. The Rev. Steven Knowles will take the lead at the church, located at the corner of Fourth and Day streets in Gonzales, this Sunday, May 21.
The church, a member of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., has a vast history in the community. It was built in 1884 and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The community church was rededicated in 1955.
Knowles himself is a Southern California native, having grown up in Englewood. He has worked all over the western United States. Most recently he has been the pastor of churches in Klamath Falls and Florence, Ore.
With family in Southern California and with working in Northern California, the pastor was familiar with Highway 101 and had driven through the City of Gonzales many times.
He knew there was a church in the city but didn’t have the chance to visit.
Knowles had his documents on the Internet and was contacted by the membership of the church. He was called and voted in on Jan. 29. He celebrated his first service in the 143-year-old church on Feb. 5.
The Gonzales Community Presbyterian Church holds services at 10 a.m. every Sunday at 340 Day St. This Sunday its will hold the installation ceremony for Knowles into the Gonzales church and the San Jose Presbytery, which is a group of local Presbyterian Churches from the Monterey County and north.
The special service is at 3 p.m. and will welcome Knowles into the region. During the service Knowles and the Presbytery will pledge their service together.
The ceremony, as well as all church services, is open to everyone.
