Our History

Robert Carlton, a Roman Catholic, recognized the need for a Protestant church and cemetery in the little community of Carlton, and in 1883 he deeded the land they now occupy, stipulating only that the little church must always have a cross on its steeple. Area residents began a church building that was completed and dedicated in June, 1884. It was Methodist Episcopal and was served for the next 40 years by various Methodist ministers, many of them circuit riders. One of the first was “Brother Van” – W. W. Van Orsdel – who with Francis Riggin traveled the area on horseback. They helped organized the little congregation who first met in homes near the present church.

A parsonage was built next door to the south about 1900. It was a small spartan home for several pastors and was last thus occupied about 1920. In the spring of 1956 members of the present FCCC congregation resurrected the little building to use as a Sunday School, eventually doubling its size with a fellowship room that could be used for dinners and meetings and which was later furnished with dividers for classes. Pumped water replaced the old dug well, the kitchen was updated, and a series of heating systems followed the old wood stove. This building is now the Fellowship Hall and is used primarily for a youth center.

Doctrinal friction closed the doors of the little church about 1924. From then until after World War II the building saw very little use: one wedding in 1926 and occasional funeral services. It fell into disrepair and was finally deeded by the Methodist diocese to the Florence-Carlton Cemetery Association, with the provision that it must always remain a church. The Cemetery Association still owns the land and the two buildings.

During the late 40’s and early 50’s occasional services were held when a visiting minister could be secured, and local families helped organize Sunday School classes, which met sporadically during the school year. William Bessire, a Presbyterian home missionary from Missoula, helped promote the Sunday School efforts and also preached on a limited but regular basis. Some families who were active in this period of church revival included Walter and Etta Polette, Karl and Gladys Ostrom, Claude and Hilda Martin, Lloyd and Zella Heggen, Jules and Grace Zander, and Paul and Helen Trenk.

Finally in the fall of 1954 services began on a regular basis with Presbyterian John Elliott from Missoula, who served for a year and was succeeded by Hugh Garner, also a Presbyterian, who served from September, 1955, through February, 1962. Hugh was then pastor of the Victor Federated Church, and Florence was in a way their outreach. Hugh was soon dividing his time almost equally between the two valley congregations. He actively promoted a youth group, and his wife Elsie, a talented and trained musician, contributed much to the musical development of our church. It was Hugh also who was the chief author of the constitution of the Florence-Carlton Community Church, a fine document still serving us with but little amendment. The constitution was formally adopted and signed by 49 charter members in April, 1957.

During the next decade the church facilities were renovated and enlarged, and the congregation grew slowly but steadily. Some families active during this period were the Davises, the Gebharts, the Hendricksons, the Keysers, the Osterhelds, and the Rosses, in addition to those previously mentioned. A succession of ministers served us on a part-time basis: Joe Caulfield and Merrill Skaug from Victor, then William Kliber, Frank Grant, Richard England, and Larry Johnson. The latter became our first full-time pastor, resigning in 1982 to attend the U of M for an advanced degree and different vocation.

After a difficult year of searching, Florence and Victor secured David Hansen of the American Baptist Churches/USA. for their yoked parishes in 1983. David served for eight years, leaving in April, 1992, for a pulpit in Belgrade, Mt. He helped to initiate and lead us through a major undertaking – the acquisition of our own land and the building of our own church building. Because we were not formally affiliated with any denomination it was necessary to first raise money to purchase our three-plus acres and then to raise a substantial part of the money needed to build the church itself.

Bonds were sold, the ABC building plan was utilized, and phase one of the building plan was completed. Services were held in the new church for the first time at Christmas of 1988. The bonds are now retired and lower level classrooms have been completed. We are about to start on phase two – a large wing with kitchen, assembly room, and more classrooms.

When David left in 1992 the ABC furnished us with a pastor through their MAL program, and after a year we secured the services of Gary Moore. We also took the important step during this year of formally affiliating with a Protestant denomination: the American Baptist Churches/USA. The yoked parish with Victor was dissolved harmoniously, and both congregations now function independently. In 1996 we added Pat Lovitt as youth pastor to our professional staff. He spearheaded and shepherded a summer youth ministry to Tecate, Mexico. We have also added a secretary/clerk to help with church business. In August 1999, Gary left us after seven years as pastor to follow his wife, Claudia, to her new academic position in Batavia, NY. Pat Lovitt resigned in May 2000 and Christine A. Prescott was called as pastor in September 2000. During her pastorship a second service was added at 11AM Sunday morning. and a new Youth and Christian Education pastor Tom Powell was put on staff. Christine left in August, 2003, and in January 2005 David Blackwell was called as senior pastor to Florence and the church has been experiencing a burst of new members since. It would be impossible to list all those who have helped us grow steadily during these years. It is important to note, however, that there has always been growth and that programs have been added from time to time to strengthen our Christian commitments to each other, the community, and the world. We have enjoyed an outstanding music ministry under a succession of talented choir directors, organists, and pianists. We have a vital religious education program which includes Sunday School for pre-school through adult, plus Bible study groups, retreats, We have a women’s group, the FCCF, which dates from 1954, plus youth groups, the Men’s Outreach Ministry, and summer Vacation Bible School. Our mission efforts are significant and are continually expanding.

Members of our congregation come from many different religious backgrounds, but all are united in the purpose stated in our constitution:

“The purpose of this church shall be the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this community and to the ends of the earth, in order that men and women everywhere might become sincere disciples and servants of Jesus Christ and the cause of the Kingdom of God might be advanced through the world.”