United Protestant Church - Palmer, Alaska
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 61° 35.911 W 149° 06.477
6V E 388154 N 6831265
Historic Presbyterian Church also known as The Church of a Thousand Trees in Palmer, Alaska.
Waymark Code: WMAPF8
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 02/07/2011
Views: 6
When it was determined that the Federal government was to establish a colony of farmers in the Matanuska Valley as a New Deal project the Home Missions Council (an interdenominational group) assigned the Presbyterian Church USA the responsibility of the religious care of the colonists. The Presbyterian Church sent Rev. Bert Bingle of Cordova to Palmer, he arrived in Palmer May 6, 1935, the week before the colonists arrived. The following week he held services in a tent. Rev. Bingle worked to have a community center built for civic and religious groups could meet. Once the community center was built services were held there only for a short time because sickness had fell upon the Colony and the community center was converted to serve as a hospital.
The church then met in homes of Colonists and then again in a tent. It was during this time the decision to made to formally establish a church. First a manse was built which was completed November 1, 1935. On November 24th a church council was established, a constitution was drafted, and the church named. In 1936 the Presbyterian Church granted the congregation a $1,500 loan and efforts were begun to build a permanent church of logs. The men and women of the church worked tirelessly over the winter building the church. On April 11, 1937 "the church of a thousand trees" dedicated with Rev. Bingle serving as its first pastor. The church continues to serve its active Presbyterian congregation.