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A Brief History of First Presbyterian Church
San Diego, California

Two years after the founding of the city of San Diego, First Presbyterian Church was organized and in June 1869, held its first services in a furniture store on Sixth Avenue. Shortly thereafter the congregation was able to build its first church home at Eighth and D Streets on land donated by Alonzo Horton, an influential pioneer and founding father of the city. As membership grew, the church sanctuary (originally built to accommodate 250 worshippers) became totally inadequate and a new sanctuary was begun in November 1887, adjacent to the first church building. Unfortunately, a few weeks later, work came to an abrupt halt when the “land boom” began to collapse and people left San Diego in droves. The building was pushed to completion by the pastor and ensuing financial problems plagued the church and they were forced to adopt desperate measures by charging pew rentals for several years.

Eventually as the population of San Diego and the congregation grew, it became apparent that a new church building was needed but there was great disagreement as to where it should be located. The site selected was then regarded as the “outskirts” off the city, far up the sage shrouded hill on what is now our current location on Date Street, between Third and Fourth Streets. The new church building was to cost $100,000, with two large stained glass windows in the sanctuary, including the central panels, “Christ the Sower”, saved from the previous church building, and with a seating capacity of 1,500. The first worship service was held on July 6, 1913, in the Assembly Room, since the sanctuary was not yet completed and at last, on November 15, 1914, worshippers celebrated the dedication of the new church.

Subsequently, the Chapel was built and dedicated in October 1951, and the Christian Education building added in 1960. Westminster Manor, which provides low-income housing for seniors, was completed in 1971. Beginning in 1976, the church has operated “City Tree Christian School”, a pre-school/day school, serving children through grade six, and occupying the entire Christian Education Building (including the roof) Monday through Friday.

The 100-rank Casavant-Freres Centennial Organ was dedicated in June, 1973, taking two years to manufacture and install. Then, sometime after midnight on October 14, 1980, an arsonist set a fire in the kitchen, directly underneath the sanctuary. The fire, burning up through the walls and into the sanctuary, destroyed the organ, choir loft, pulpit platform, and front of the church, devastating the dining room and kitchen as well. During the restoration process, services were held in the Assembly Room and West Room (utilizing closed circuit TV) until the congregation was able to return to the sanctuary where services resumed in January, 1982. Repairs to the organ took an additional year to complete.

By July, 1983, the homeless population in San Diego had grown to such proportions that the church was inundated with requests for food, clothing, etc. In order to alleviate the problems of the homeless, even a little bit, “Ladle Fellowship” was born and began to provide a soup meal on Sunday afternoons, utilizing the church’s kitchen and dining room. We now feed about 300 guests each week in a ministry where God has called us to serve.

Just as San Diego has grown and changed over the years, so has First Presbyterian Church. Forty years ago the church was second in membership of all Presbyterian churches in the United States. But as the population spread to the suburbs, new churches sprung up in the outlying areas of the county as a reflection of urban sprawl. At the present time there are 900 active members of the congregation plus children and regular attendees. We are grateful that the Lord has continued to encourage and strengthen our downtown church, knowing that His plans and His ways are perfect and that at First Presbyterian Church we are fulfilling His purposes.

Note: This brief history was taken from the History of FPC compiled by the late Gordon
Shupe. We gratefully acknowledge his many hours of research.