Harriet Reece helped us fill in some of the history of the Cavendish United Methodist Church after she got the answer:

Construction of the Cavendish United Methodist Church was started in 1936. It was dedicated in 1938. Land was originally purchased for a community church in 1929, but the group traded land for logs and ended up building on property that belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, so it became a Methodist church. There had previously been a Methodist church at the site.

On the day of the dedication, the congregation could have lost the church. Scraps from the shingles were used for the fire and it got so hot it caught the building on fire. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished.

Harriet said the alter was built by Mitch Blackburn. The church bell, original pews and piano came from a church in Peach, WA. They were donated because the community would be underwater with the construction of Grand Coulee Dam.

The Cavendish Ladies Club used to hold a bazaar every fall to help pay for expenses. Then they had a minister that felt the costs should be paid by tithes and since many of those who made items and prepared for the event were getting older and tired, they stopped, Harriet added.

Today, the minister from the Orofino Peck United Methodist Church also serves the congregation at Cavendish.

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