Parkview was grateful to have new wrought iron fencing installed Fall 2024 to better secure the church grounds, but members wanted to retain the beauty of the original wooden fencing. Stan Umeda and his installation team of Russ Hart, Neil Matsuoka, Dave McGill, Jonathan Sakakibara, Titus Toyama, William Yee, and Gary Younglove made sure Parkview would retain that look. They finished the project in July 2025. Using repurposed wood from the wooden fence that was removed when Parkview installed the wrought iron security fence last year, the new gate toppers and the gate decorations which Stan built provide visual reminders of Parkview’s Japanese American heritage.
They also remind us of the immigrant story of the church. Established as a Japanese Presbyterian Mission in 1912, the church’s name and location has changed throughout its history. In 1940, the Japanese Church of Christ broke ground at our current location at 727 T Street, and held first services in May 1941. Despite having to close from 1942-1945 due to the incarceration our members suffered during WWII, when the church reopened, Pastor Nakamura met Japanese Americans returning to Sacramento from the camps at the train station, inviting them to stay at the church until they got resettled.
Since 1947, we have been called Parkview Presbyterian Church. Throughout its history, this church has been a shelter from the world’s storms, a safe haven for anyone seeking connection with a warm, caring church family and with their loving Creator. The beautifully restored gate toppers and decorations that Stan and his team graciously installed serve as a heartwarming visual beacon, a reminder of our rich cultural heritage of welcome and resilience, to the glory of God.
– Pastor Sarah
P.S. And thanks to the team for taking care of some of those little outdoor things that needed fixin’: painted asphalt to stop cars from blocking the doorway, little wire cages to stop the pigeons from stooping and pooping, and redistributing dirt in the Japanese garden. Thanks to Kris Sazaki and William Yee for the photos.