Our History
Centerville has been faithfully sharing God’s Word in Fremont for nearly two centuries. Our story began in 1853 when nine local citizens signed a petition requesting Reverend W.W. Brier to organize them into a church of Jesus called Alameda Presbyterian Church under the care of the Presbytery of San Francisco. Those who signed the petition were: Charles Hilton, Elizabeth Brier, Hannah Breyfogle, Chauncey Cornell, Charlotte Cornell, Charles Kelsey, Eliza Beard and James Selfridge. The church was officially formed and had its first Sunday service on Sunday, June 5th, 1853, in J.M. Horner’s School House - and thus our church was born. We are still going strong over 170 years later.
These were the pioneers who founded Centerville Presbyterian Church and organized the cemetery that nearly surrounded the church. Most of them were farmers or merchants in the Centerville area. Many were prominent citizens in the town of Centerville, and several helped found Alameda County. Their leader, Reverend William Wallace Brier, was born in Dayton Ohio in 1821 and was ordained in 1848. He came to California in 1850 and served as District Secretary of Home Missions for California and Nevada. Brier ended up planting over 27 churches across the western United States before his death in 1887. He was buried in our church cemetery, which is now right off of Fremont Blvd. We are part of William and Elizabeth Brier's legacy to this day.
These were the pioneers who founded Centerville Presbyterian Church and organized the cemetery that nearly surrounded the church. Most of them were farmers or merchants in the Centerville area. Many were prominent citizens in the town of Centerville, and several helped found Alameda County. Their leader, Reverend William Wallace Brier, was born in Dayton Ohio in 1821 and was ordained in 1848. He came to California in 1850 and served as District Secretary of Home Missions for California and Nevada. Brier ended up planting over 27 churches across the western United States before his death in 1887. He was buried in our church cemetery, which is now right off of Fremont Blvd. We are part of William and Elizabeth Brier's legacy to this day.
