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First Presbyterian Church (San Luis Obispo, California)

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Map
Address981 Marsh St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
CountryUnited States
DenominationPresbyterian (PCUSA)
Website[1]
History
Founder(s)McDowell Reid Venable
Architecture
Architect(s)Thornton Fitzhugh (1904) William Orr (1928) Curtis Illingsworth (1987)
StyleEnglish Arts & Crafts (1904) Gothic Revival (1928)
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Dennis Falasco

The First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Luis Obispo, California is located at 981 Marsh Street on the corner of Marsh and Morro Streets. It holds Sunday services and also midweek gatherings.


First Presbyterian Church's mission is for Christian ministries of healing and reconciling. [1]

Building History

First Presbyterian Church is an historic Presbyterian church founded by Civil War veteran and San Luis Obispo county judge, McDowell Reid Venable in 1875 with eleven charter members. It was the third Protestant church founded in San Luis Obispo. Prior to the erection of its current building, property was purchased at the corner of Marsh and Morro Streets and a small, wood church building was constructed. In 1884, this small church was replaced by a slightly larger Victorian Stick-Eastlake church that seated nearly 200 people. In 1904, this building was relocated to the lot next door where it was used by the congregation and the community for two more decades. The cornerstone for the church's present building was laid in 1904. Construction was completed in 1905 using granite quarried from nearby Bishop Peak in the English Arts and Crafts style. The Educational Unit (the Hart Building) was constructed and dedicated in February 1929. A local journal observed that it was “…the first building, other than a church, to be devoted exclusively to religious education in San Luis Obispo…” The A. G. Wilson Fellowship Hall was built in 1987 and has been the center of church fellowship activities and it is also used for many community events. In 2001 the stone sanctuary was earthquake retrofitted.

Congregation History

[2]

Leadership

The church belongs to the Santa Barbara Presbytery within the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. First Presbyterian Church is currently led by Pastor Dennis Falasco. The Senior and Junior High ministries are run by Ryan Valliere. Front Porch, the college ministry, is directed by Joel Drenckpohl. Jenifer Rabenaldt oversees the Children's Ministry. Tracy Whittemore is the church administrator.[3]

Relationship to California Polytechnic State University

Front Porch, (Presbyterians of Reasoned Christian Hope) is a ministry of the Santa Barbara Presbytery (PCUSA) in partnership with FPCSLO. Front Porch is directed by Joel Drenckpohl. While many participants are Presbyterians, many are not.[4]

Housing Project

In the Spring of 2008, the City of San Luis Obispo approved the construction of a Housing Project to supplement the ministry of Front Porch. The project is to be built on the site of the old Front Porch building near the dead-end of Foothill Blvd. near the Cal Poly campus. This project includes approximately 40 rooms, a ministry hall, a cafe, a kitchen, and a residence for the director and her/his family. The project is scheduled to be completed in mid-2010.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mission of First Presbyterian Church
  2. ^ First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo history
  3. ^ First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo staff
  4. ^ Front Porch

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