8155 Painter Avenue

Whittier Church of Christ
Whittier, California

The Whittier Church of Christ is built in a classic Spanish style.  It features a front colonnade of  arched openings.  The whole of the church is roofed in red clay tile.  And above the roof of the double front doors of the auditorium is a circle window.  Another distinctive feature is the tower with a dome of turquoise and maze glazed brick.

Tower and Dome

Colored Glazed Brick Dome of Tower

"During World War I the need for a congregation in Whittier was recognized. A few members of the church lived in the Whittier area for short periods from 1916 to 1938. The earliest know attempts to begin a congregation was in 1916 in the home of R.T. Lyttle.... But, not until May 1938 was there a sustained work begun.

"The church began regular meetings with 32 charter members. They met in the Women’s Club, at the corner of Friends and Bailey Streets.

Front Entrance of Auditorium

"In 1943 the congregation bought a building at 341 South Milton Avenue. The church occupied this facility until property was secured and the present auditorium built at 8155 Painter Avenue. The new building was dedicated December 17, 1950.

"Additions have been made to the property.

"On October 6, 1985 the church concluded a building fund campaign called “To God Be The Glory” by taken up a $1.2 collection to the build our Family Life Center. The FLC consists of classrooms, fellowship hall and gymnasium." (Link 1.)

Photos: Taken in June 2013 by SW.

Link 1: http://whittiercoc.org/new-here/our-history/
Link 2: http://whittiercoc.org/

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Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

(SW)

First Congregational Church/United Church of Christ
Alameda, California

"First Congregational Church of Alameda was founded in 1879 by missionaries. The first minister (George Morris) of our church was was born in England and traveled from there via Capetown South Africa and Tahiti before coming to San Francisco and the Bay Area. When the rent of $2.50 a week at the original space became too high, services were moved to a hayloft above a livery stable on Webster Street and the Church became known as the "hayloft Church." In 1883 a small building was purchased in the 1700 block of Central Avenue which was moved in 1885 to our present location at the corner of Central Avenue and Chestnut Street, (1912 Central Avenue) in the heart of Alameda. In 1904 the cornerstone for the new building was laid and the completed structure was dedicated on Easter Sunday 1905. An education wing was added in 1963.

"In 1961 the members of the Church voted to become a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC) which was formed in 1957 by the merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Churches.

Corner Scroll Plaque

"The UCC has a proud history of being on the leading edge of working

toward social justice. FCCA joined in this tradition in 1987 when our congregation accepted the 1985 resolution and call from our General Synod to declare ourselves “Open and Affirming,” adopting an Inclusive Non-discrimination Policy that states: “We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, or the differently abled.”

                                                        Left side feature window


"In 2004 we celebrated our 125th anniversary as a congregation and the 100th anniversary in this historic structure. Today, FCCA is a growing and vibrant community of Christian faith, where all persons and families are welcome. We move into our future full of hope and with gratitude for God’s faithfulness – yesterday, today and tomorrow." (See Link.)

Photos: Taken in 2011 by SW.
Link: http://www.fccalameda.org/index.html

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Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)