Longbranch Community Church celebrates 101 years

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

In 1895, people started to gather to worship together at the tip of the Key Peninsula. In 1905, a church known as the Longbranch Congregational Church was built overlooking Filucy Bay. But after about 30 years, the church began to slip off its foundation.

“It was built on a muddy slope and the ground was not stable,” former trustee member Drew Gazabat said. “The church started falling off the foundation and sliding down the hill.”

A rope was attached to the building and connected to trees to keep it from sliding farther down the hill.

“That was before all the building codes,” Gazabat said.

Construction on a new church began in 1946, and the church was dedicated in June 1948. The property was donated by the Abe Rickert family. The stained glass window was removed from the old church and installed in the new one.

“That stained glass window is 101 years old,” Gazabat said.

The members of the church are a tight-knit community, and most have been going to the church for many years. Gazabat said it was the church that made him feel welcome when he moved to the area in 1998.

The church keeps a book of its members, and Gazabat pointed to certain people’s names as he thumbed through the binder.

“Marguerite Bussard was the first woman to be married in this church,” he said. “And Doug Gould is a bicycle enthusiast. He and his wife, Robin, had a bicycle wedding at Penrose Park.”

Longbranch is an interdenominational church that welcomes all who seek Christ. The church hosts an annual salmon bake in July at the Longbranch Improvement Club.

Sunday worship celebration

Worship service is at 11 a.m. through May and 10 a.m. June through August.

Bible study

Bible Study Classes are at 9:45 a.m. Sundays for adults, teens and children. Also, adult Bible study classes are 10:30 a.m. Mondays.

Salmon Bake

The ninth annual salmon bake will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. July 18 at the Longbranch Improvement Club, 4312 Key Peninsula Highway S. in Longbranch. The event will feature a trout pond, silent auction and community booths. Tickets are $12 pre-sale and $14 at the door. Tickets for children ages 5-12 are $5; those younger than 5 can get in for free.

Tickets are available at Lake Kathryn Coast Hardware Store, Home Store, Charboneau Construction, Sunnycrest Nursery in Key Center and Longbranch Marina.

For more information, call Ruth Bramhall at 253-857-5184 or visit www.longbranchchurch.net.

Contact information

Sponsoring church: Longbranch Community Church

Address: 16518 46th St. KPS, Longbranch

Phone: 253-884-9339