In the 1880s, Bodie was the second or third largest town in California, and probably the wildest. There were no churches in Bodie before 1882 to serve the population mainly made up of men. Catholics held services on Sunday mornings in the Miners Union Hall, and the Reverend G.B. Hinkie held Methodist services there in the afternoon.

Both groups wanted their own place of worship so the Reverend F.M. Warrington purchased a lot at the corner of Green and Fuller Streets in September 1882 where a church could be built. The new church was ready to move into on September 15, 1883. The hand made pews could seat up to 100 people, and an oil cloth hung over the pulpit proclaiming the 10 Commandments. On Christmas Day in 1883, a church bell was heard for the first time in Bodie.

In 1932, E.J. Clinton of San Francisco restored the church, and held the last service there. Since then, the church has seen a few weddings and a memorial service or two. Someone stole the oil cloth with the Ten commandments.

The little shed in front of the church may be an old mine shaft, or a gateway for sinners to the nether world. Maybe a collection box built by an optimist. I do know that the shed was built before 1920, and that it has a lock on the door. The shed is probably no more than a frost housing over a fire hydrant.

When Hollywood discovered Bodie, the church played a part in the 1924 movie Hell’s Heroes starring Charles Bickford, and was again used in the 1956 movie Goldseeker starring John Dehmer.