Sacramento’s Pioneer congregation holds grief, hope as it sells 177-year-old church
Beneath stained-glass windows glowing with biblical icons from 1926, the pastor of Pioneer Congregational Church United Church of Christ reminded the congregation of God’s presence as more than 50 mourners filled the pews.
Tears welled in the eyes of those gathered in the sanctuary at the Midtown church on 2700 L Street.
“We can look at all the windows and be reminded of the greatness of who God is, but you know who I find to be the best representation of God? My neighbor, my friend, my partner, the person who sits next to me in the pew, you’re here because you’re not just loving the building, but you’re loving each other,” Rev. David Bocock said.
The small but mighty choir filled the room with songs of welcome and gratitude, setting a warm and celebratory tone for the gathering for the 177-year-old church organization.
Community members shared personal stories about their deep connections to the L Street building.
For many, it had been the backdrop to life’s most meaningful milestones: a place where they were baptized, married, and raised in faith. Within its walls, they found friendship, support, and a lasting sense of community that has spanned generations.
Bocock, known as Pastor Bo to the congregation, told The Bee that the moment the century-old building was put up for sale it made the future of the congregation unclear.
“We have some plans, and so we’re looking at a possible merger with another denominational UCC (United Church of Christ) church,” he said. “We’re talking about renting space, we’re talking about federating, which is a fancy church word, and it’s like a merger, but it’s not. We’ve talked about maybe closing, but that’s the last thing.”
Betsy Ruggit, the church historian, said the streaming habits started with COVID-19 made it easier for people to stop attending church in person which stopped funds.
“We redid the kitchen, so it’s a commercial kitchen, and rent out the kitchen for catering and doing that, but it’s not enough to bring in,” she said. “We have a couple other churches that have little services here that wasn’t enough to meet all of our financial needs.”
Bocock said he won’t be a part of knowing the future plans as he will be moving to the Sierra Vista Community Church in Arden. He said he isn’t sure where people will go next as his four years as the pioneer pastor comes to an end.
“They’re needing a break for sure. Their hearts are heavy, and they need to grieve, and they need to spend time grieving,” he said.
Ruggit said the church building was sold to a buyer who plans to turn it into a mix-use building.
“I made sure that it had a historical designation, because that was really important to me, because I did not want the building to be torn down,” she said. “It does have a historical designation that the exterior cannot be modified or changed, even like the stained-glass windows, that is part of the actual exterior of the windows, and so they’re all protected “
Bocock, a self-proclaimed “liberal redneck” from Oklahoma, spoke of a story of Paul and Jesus to the congregation as they face uncertainties about what lies next for the group.
“In our scripture lessons for today, we read where Paul and Jesus inspired early Christians not to lose heart and to go with faith wherever God is sending them,” he said.
The pastor encouraged his community to know that there is courage in choosing not to give up, but instead to search together for the place for them.
“Trust that God has been preparing you for this moment, and go in faith,” he said. “God will continue to guide the pioneer congregational church. So, as you walk out these doors for the last time, do not think of it as ending, think of it as a procession into God’s future.”
He said God has been faithful through every generation before, noting the church’s long history.
“Carry the memories with gratitude, carry the grief of modesty, and carry hope as well,” Borock said. “Somewhere ahead is a new home, a new chapter, a new opportunity for ministry you cannot yet find.”
