First Church San Diego History

The new congregation bought two lots for $200 on the northeast corner of Broadway and Fourth Ave., across from what is now Horton Plaza. The first church was a white wooden structure that could seat 300 worshipers.

By 1887, church membership had grown to 395. The wooden church became too small and was moved to India St., and a large three-story building, the First Methodist Episcopal Block was built in its place to a cost of $50,000, including a pipe organ. The structure was a combination of church edifice on the second and third floors and income-producing commercial space on the street level. 

A new church, designed in "Gothic-Revival" style by Irving Gill, was dedicated on May 5, 1907. The auditorium could seat 1,500 people. The bell tower contained 11 cast bells, gifted by Dr. Gaylord Hartupee in 1908, which were moved and eventually installed in our current bell tower. The stone cross positioned on top of the main entrance to the church, was recovered during the move to Mission Valley and can now be seen at the entrance to the Children's Growing Center.

The Social Service Department, one of many ministries, had its headquarters located in a large home and had a sign above the porch indicating that the site offered a free reading room. The exact location of this building is unknown; however, it was most likely nearby the Ninth and C Street church.

In this photo from November 1916, the Social Service Department workers and residents are gathered to share a Thanksgiving meal. The First M.E. Church of San Diego provided social services for those in need with beds, meals, clothing and medical care. The building housed dorm-style sleeping quarters for men and women, private bedrooms, a clinic, a reading room, a dining room, a reception room,  and a clothing room.

In the 1950s the congregation was again outgrowing its facilities downtown, where needed repairs to accommodate new earthquake safety regulations and lack of adequate parking had become issues. A location to build a new church was found in the heart of Mission Valley, among nearby dairy farms and corn fields. Ten-and-a-half acres were purchased for $60,000 in 1958 and the groundbreaking was held in 1963. The new church was completed by late October 1964.

The new contemporary, Spanish cathedral-style church, was designed by Reginald Inwood and completed in 1964. The actual move from Ninth Street to the new site was completed by the congregation in two days in an endless caravan of cars and trucks.

The first service in the sanctuary was held on Nov. 8, 1964. The sanctuary seats over 1,000 and was later renovated inside and out 1987-88. 

Every Sunday worshipers get to enjoy music played on the largest pipe organ in San Diego County. In 1988, the sanctuary pipe organ was completely rebuilt and enlarged by Lyle Blackinton & Assoc.