Valley View UMC
PO Box 1304
827 Spruce Street
Española, NM 87532
505-753-4115

History of Valley View

The original church was founded as a result of its first Sunday School, which was organized in 1882 in the home of Samuel McBride, the Espanola railroad depot agent. in 1892 a lot was purchased, the property was deeded and trustees were appointed. The first structure was adobe, built by some of the members who made their own adobe bricks. Services were held whenever a pastor could come up from Santa Fe.

In 1911 Rev. D.F. Lucas requested the bishop appoint him pastor of Espanola and the territory north. At this point the church was reorganized with 14 members and a church of 13 was organized at Carson and another at Tres Piedras.

In 1913 Rev. Lucas was followed by Rev. R.R. Yelland who died the next year. Rev. J.A. Bretz came in 1915 and stayed one year. In 1917 Rev. W.H. Stevens came as minister. The Ladies Aid had raised money to build a parsonage and the building was completed later that year. Rev. Stevens stayed until 1919. When he left the church had no pastor until 1925, after the Methodist -Episcopal Church turned the property over to the United Brethren.

In 1924 a flood seriously weakened the adobe church and services were held in the parsonage. When the United Brethren acquired the land and parsonage, they built a new church and appointed Rev. James Love to Espanola. After Rev. Love left in 1927 the church was served by fill-in pastors along with the churches of Santa Cruz, Alcalde and Velarde churches until 1933 when Rev. C. Schlotterbeck was appointed. He stayed until 1941 when Rev. A.L. Brandstetter came and served the Espanola and Santa Cruz churches. He left in 1947 and Rev. A.D. Smith came in 1948.

During 1948 - 1949 the church investigated either remolding the present church or building a new church. It was decided that it would be better to build a new church. In 1951 land was purchased for a new building, but due to changes in the status of the church, that land was sold back to the company from which is was bought and land was donated for the present building site. The new building was completed in 1957.

Since the building was completed there have been many additions to the church, including a new organ, the three crosses outside, a variety of stained glass windows, the rose garden, a play area, among others.

Today the church is located at 827 Spruce Street. It is a local United Methodist Church and is part of the Albuquerque District of the New Mexico Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

 

Last updated, March 15, 2009