The Garden Valley Church : No Lovelier Spot in the Dale

Our church has been around for almost a hundred years. It sits on the Lake Ellen Road off the Inchelium Highway and has served the families around the area I live faithfully. Behind the church is the Garden Valley Cemetery which has sections for many pioneers from the area.

The church has needed some repair for some time. It is difficult to take a historical building and do an extreme church makeover. I loved the look of our church the way it was. It sat on a hill along the country road and has always reminded me of the Church in the Wildwood.

The church board hired a contractor to put on siding and a new roof. I am so pleased to see the historical look of church remained. Marty, a church member designed a steeple which was also built and placed on the roof. It now plays music that can be heard as church members drive up on Sunday. We still have our beautiful wood pews inside, but have new beams on the ceiling. The sounds have changed inside the church. We were used to some echoes that made it hard to hear.I learned this song as a child and although our church is white and we hear music instead of bells, it is still a fitting song.

There's a church in the valley by the wildwood
No lovelier spot in the dale
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale

(Oh, come, come, come, come)

Come to the church by the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the vale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale

How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning
To listen to the clear ringing bells
Its tones so sweetly are calling
Oh come to the church in the vale

(Oh, come, come, come, come)A few years ago a Sunday School was built next door.
Also a ramp and new porch had been added a few years ago.