How it all started...
The Congregational Church came to Deer Park in 1891 along with one of the town's founders, J.N. Short.
Mr. Short owned the local sawmill. He soon saw to the building of a sanctuary that was trimmed in
Tamarack from Chattaroy that had been processed at his mill. The building was New England style and
was imposing by its size on the Main Street of a very small town. Over the years stained and painted
glass windows have been installed, usually as a memorial to a friend or member of the church. The
sound of the great church bell in the East tower of the building is a traditional sound in the city of Deer
Park.
In the beginning the church fronted not on Main Street but on Railroad Avenue. The name 'Open Door'
derived from knowledge that the doors of the church would remain unlocked. Men who were down on
their luck and rode the rails from job to job knew that they could always escape the bitter weather of
Deer Park's winter through the 'open door' of the big white church.
The church building houses the worship of the oldest continuing congregation in Deer Park. It has also
served as an infirmary during the great flu epidemic of 1918. For a short time it housed the Deer Park
Public Library and for more than fifteen years was the center for the preparation of hot meals on
wheels.
In 1957 this local church agreed to participate in a union that incorporated several other denominations
along with the traditional Congregational Churches and reflected that agreement by adding 'United
Church of Christ' to its name. The Official name of the church was changed to "The Open Door
Congregational United Church of Christ".
2017 was a monumental year for The Open Door. In January of 2017 the congregation voted to
disassociate from the United Church of Christ and return to its roots as a Congregational Church. The
name of the church was officially changed back to "The Open Door Congregational Church".
2017 also saw the hiring of a new pastor, Jim Lyonais to fill our Pastoral needs as the former pastor of 20
years, Rev. Daniel Berg had retired in August of 2016.
Mr. Short owned the local sawmill. He soon saw to the building of a sanctuary that was trimmed in
Tamarack from Chattaroy that had been processed at his mill. The building was New England style and
was imposing by its size on the Main Street of a very small town. Over the years stained and painted
glass windows have been installed, usually as a memorial to a friend or member of the church. The
sound of the great church bell in the East tower of the building is a traditional sound in the city of Deer
Park.
In the beginning the church fronted not on Main Street but on Railroad Avenue. The name 'Open Door'
derived from knowledge that the doors of the church would remain unlocked. Men who were down on
their luck and rode the rails from job to job knew that they could always escape the bitter weather of
Deer Park's winter through the 'open door' of the big white church.
The church building houses the worship of the oldest continuing congregation in Deer Park. It has also
served as an infirmary during the great flu epidemic of 1918. For a short time it housed the Deer Park
Public Library and for more than fifteen years was the center for the preparation of hot meals on
wheels.
In 1957 this local church agreed to participate in a union that incorporated several other denominations
along with the traditional Congregational Churches and reflected that agreement by adding 'United
Church of Christ' to its name. The Official name of the church was changed to "The Open Door
Congregational United Church of Christ".
2017 was a monumental year for The Open Door. In January of 2017 the congregation voted to
disassociate from the United Church of Christ and return to its roots as a Congregational Church. The
name of the church was officially changed back to "The Open Door Congregational Church".
2017 also saw the hiring of a new pastor, Jim Lyonais to fill our Pastoral needs as the former pastor of 20
years, Rev. Daniel Berg had retired in August of 2016.
Expanding the vision...
Coming soon...
Where we are headed...
Coming soon...
