Charles Cornelius Anker

Born 1933 in Long Beach, CA. Parents dairy farmers, father native of The Netherlands. Attended Bellflower Christian School through high school. Graduated from The College of William and Mary in 1957. Interrupted college after sophomore year to spend two years in the infantry in Japan and Korea before returning to college in 1955. Attended State University of Iowa majoring in English Literature.  Graduated from New Brunswick Theological Seminary on the Rutgers campus in New Brunswick, NJ.

Married Barbara Dykstra and she accompanied him to his first charge at The Fort Miller Reformed Church located between Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls, NY. Later a stint at the 320 year old Protestant Dutch Reformed Church in Kingston, NY. Returned to California due to an illness in the Dykstra family.

Through Paul Woudenberg, secured a position at the United Methodist Church in Oxnard. Later joined Paul at the 2,200 member First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica. Joined him on staff at The Church of the Wayfarer in Carmel in 1976. Son, Christian Marius, ten and a half years old died suddenly that same year. Wife, Barbara, died from breast cancer in 1992. Retired from the Church of the Wayfarer in 1998. Served as an interim pastor at the Santa Clara United Methodist Church and then at the Lindsay United Methodist Church in Lindsay, CA.

Married Alida a native of The Netherlands having emigrated to the USA in 1957. Upon ending pastorate in Lindsay the end of June of this year, began a ministry at the Church in the Forest in July.