We believe Teamwork makes the Dream work. – Pastor Carieta Cain-Grizzell

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - On Sunday October 30, 2022 the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church, (FOUMC) 9849 Fair Oaks Blvd, will commemorate its 125^th anniversary with a special celebration from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. 

Join neighbors and enjoy this space which had been an active church home to hundreds of members for nearly 55 years. Meet your neighbors, visit with local shop keepers, visit the Chamber of Commerce table, and representatives of Scout Troop 215, the Little Methodist Preschool located on site.

Enjoy the “Old Time Fiddlers” music along with a bounce house, kiddie cars and more. Food with be available from the food truck on site.

FOUMC provides space for Fair Oaks Community Organizations including Scout Troop 215, AA Groups and various Support Groups.

They provide outreach for Tarps for Homeless, Water for Homeless, contribute to the Food Drive for Sunrise Christian Food Ministries, and School backpack collection for Downtown Ministries.  They have donated seven “Arks” for the Heifer project in past years.

What does the future hold for Fair Oaks United Methodist Church?

Pastor Carieta Cain-Grizzel said, “We continue to upgrade and improve our physical campus as well as our spiritual relationships with God and each other”.

Goals for 125 ANNIVERSARY Celebration and community campaign:

1) Together we can create a sense of community that motivates everyone to be on top of our game, ease tensions and create a sense of unity which increases innovation.

2) Create opportunities for community engagement.

3) The presence of the Church in a community brings direct economic benefit to the local area by bringing individuals from surrounding areas to the community to the community that provides economic support to local establishments.

The Fair Oaks United Methodist Church (FOUMC) building which we know today at 9849 Fair Oaks Boulevard was completed 66 years ago in 1956. Before that the church took many twists and turns to get to this point, beginning in 1895 with Pastor (1^st name?)­­­ Hinman.

Its history begins when Fair Oaks was part of the original 1844 Mexican Land Grant, called Rancho San Juan. Native Americans, the Maidus lived there for centuries. The land grant also encompassed much of the adjacent communities, giving them a common heritage.

FOUMC can trace its roots to the late 1800s in Fair Oaks Village. For decades the Methodists and Presbyterians shared a church building on Watkins Drive and Sacramento Street. The original sanctuary, built in 1925, still stands at the location as a private residence.

The area now known as Fair Oaks was first developed in 1895 as a Sunset Colony of the Howard and Wilson Publishing Company of Chicago. The company had the land surveyed and mapped and began to promote Fair Oaks as one of their “Sunset Colonies”, an innovative and growing citrus colony.

Many of the home lot purchasers were professionals and other friends of the investors who came from the East. The new Fair Oaks community became initially composed of mostly businessmen and other professionals including bankers and engineers. They applied their skills, energies and capital to the development of the new town while enjoying this beautiful new territory.

Before churches were built in Fair Oaks, local pastors from various congregations outside of Fair Oaks volunteered to preach in Fair Oaks at various locations. In1895 Methodist minister, Reverend Hinman, began preaching in the newly built Fair Oaks Hotel. In December, the church was formally organized, with seven charter members and Reverend Hinman was assigned as pastor. Church services were held at various locations, including Dean’s Hall, a tent purchased for the purpose, and the old schoolhouse. The first Sunday School Superintendent was U. B. Watkins.

In 1896 Fair Oaks citizens requested a lot be donated by the Howard-Wilson Company, owner of the Fair Oaks Colony, to build a “union church” for all to use.

Howard-Wilson directed them to take a religious census and the land would be given to the denomination with the largest congregation.  The Methodists came in first and were given the land. (The Baptists were second in size.) Building of the Methodist church was organized and led by Reverend Fred Sheldon.

In 1897 the Fair Oaks Methodist Church, the first church built in Fair Oaks, opened its sanctuary doors at the corner of Watson and Sacramento streets. (Some documents refer to the church as Fair Oaks Methodist-Episcopal Church.??)

In 1919 two small congregations of Fair Oaks Methodists and Presbyterians joined together to form the Federated Church of Fair Oaks

By the early 1950s both denominations had grown enough to move into their own buildings. In 1952, after meeting together for 33 years the Federated Church of Fair Oaks split to establish separate Presbyterian and Methodist churches.

In 1953 Fair Oaks Methodist Church moved to its present building and property at Fair Oaks Blvd and Pennsylvania.In 1954 it was incorporated and began creating a church community at its current location, one building at a time.

Construction of the FOUMC Sanctuary in 1956. During construction the Spencer Building was used as a temporary church. Now it is used as the church’s offices: pastor’s office, finance Office and assistant and bookkeeper’s Office as well as a meeting room.

The church name was officially changed to Fair Oaks United Methodist Church in 1968.

During the Cold War Era, Aero-jet, McDonnell Douglas, Mather and McClellan Air Force Bases very active.  The need for preschool for growing families was observed.  

Established in 1965, the Little Methodist Preschool held its first classroom in the space where the tool shed is today.  This was an open room with a toilet in the middle of the room and a partition separating the room into sections for 3- and 4-year-olds.

With the Cold War ended, closing of Air Force Bases, and cutbacks at Aero-jet caused many families to move from this area.  Yet Little Methodist School continued to have strong enrollment until other preschools began to open in the area.