History
of CVCC
Just after the end of World war II, Carmel Valley activity was centered
in Robles del Rio, and the Village area was just beginning to sprout commercial
life. The need for a church in the Carmel Valley village area became
apparent when Sunday School classes were started in the garage and on the
lawn of Col. and Mrs. Vernon Post on Lower Circle. About a year later,
they shifted to Frank De Amaral's historic White Oaks Barn and finally
to the home of Raymond "Pete" and Jean Danielson. The dream of a
church building became closer when Clarence and Henrietta Holman donated
four lots on Village Drive, and hard-working volunteers started plans for
the building.
On March 4, 1946, the incorporation took place of the "Robles Del Rio Community
Chapel". Meetings were held in the "Bean Pot", a coffee shop co-owned
by a Tularcitos school teacher, Marion Kittrell and her sister. It
was Miss Kittrell who bought everyone together who wanted to build a church.
The group met in the De Amaral barn behind Los Laureles Lodge while the
warm weather lasted, because it turned out to be too windy to hold outdoor
services on the lot given by the Holmans. In the fall, the meetings
moved to the Danielson living room. The group considered affiliation
with different Protestant groups but Miss Kittrell "argued persuasively
for a nondenominational community chapel."
In January of 1949, the trustees met to discuss the building of a church
and with cash on hand of $119.79, decided to go ahead. Groundbreaking
for the new church took place on July 10, 1949, on the land donated by
the Holmans, with the stipulation that a regular Sunday service be held
by the end of December, 1949. Ed Mayfield and Pete Danielson (with
help from many enthusiastic volunteers) poured the cement floor, hoisted
beams and laid adobe bricks manufactured on Flight Road. On Christmas
Day 1949, the Chapel, with two Sunday School rooms and two restrooms, was
dedicated in a service held with Rev. Harris Pillsbury and Rev. John R.
Wright presiding.
Additions, renovations and improvements have taken place over the years.
The appearance of the Chapel was greatly enhanced in 1981 when a steeple
was put in place thanks to a generous memorial donation by Phyllis Shultz.
Another memorial donation was the renovation and completion of Friendship
Circle, funded in memory of Marjorie McKiernan by her daughter Patti McKiernon
Freeman. Between 1990 and the present, much refurbishment of the
sanctuary has been done, and landscaping and a labyrinth complete the entrance
to the Chapel.
CVCC HOME