Woodland Christian Church

t Woodland Christian Church is an American church in Woodland, California. Established in 1854, it was the first congregation of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) organized in California. Hesperian College (now Chapman University) in Woodland was the Disciples' first school in the state. The first meeting of Disciples in Yolo County, California was held at Cacheville, on Cache Creek, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the present town of Woodland, in 1854. Joshua Lawson, father of J. D. and Bail Lawson, preached the sermon under oak trees. The next year, John Nixon Pendegast ("Uncle Pende", 1812–1879) came and joined Lawson in a protracted meeting. There was a large in-gathering, and Lawson and "Pende" sent for "Father" Thomas Thompson, who came from Santa Clara, and the three proceeded to organize the "Cacheville Christian Church", in the spring of 1855. The first school of the Disciples in the State was founded at Woodland: Hesperian College. After the founding of Hesperian College, the professors, Oscar Matthews, James M. Martin, J. W. Webb, and others served the church as Sunday preachers. Woodland Christian Church's first house of worship was a brick structure, erected on the college lot. For years, Woodland was the center of California Discipledom. The second State Meeting was held there in 1856. It faciliated more State Meetings in subsequent years than any other localit

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