Imagine Hollywood as a small community of 700 people. It was 1903. This was when First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, now Grace Presbyterian Church, was born.
The Presbytery of Los Angeles considered this location unpromising. But Reverend Dr. Henry Newell and his wife Lizzie, the first Sunday school teacher, had a vision. They and 25 adults became charter members. They promised to make God’s glory the main focus of their lives. This marked the humble beginning of Grace Presbyterian Church.
In 1908, Grace Presbyterian Church purchased its present site. They began constructing their first building. It was affectionately known as the Presbyterian Storm Cellar. Today, it is simply called “The Cellar”.
By 1909, the first sanctuary superstructure was built. It is now the gymnasium. The women of Grace Presbyterian Church organized the Women’s Home and Missionary Society. They supported Margaret Hartsock. She became the church’s first overseas missionary.
The Reverend Dr. Stuart MacLennan became pastor in 1921. He started a legacy of great preaching. This preaching is a hallmark of Grace Presbyterian Church. During his 20-year tenure, he inspired the church. He established a local radio ministry. He led the campaign to build the present sanctuary. The cornerstone was laid in 1923.
Worship was so important that the sanctuary was designed for 1600 people. This was well beyond the 1000 members.
Dr. MacLennan persuaded Henrietta Mears to become Director of Christian Education. From 1928 to 1963, Miss Mears created a unique legacy of Christian education. In the 1950s, she ministered to hundreds of men and women through the College Department. These included future leaders like Louis Evans Jr. Bill Bright, Donn Moomaw, and Dale Bruner all learned here. Mears’ vision for a Christian camp led to the purchase of Forest Home. She also founded Gospel Light Press. This press created Sunday School curriculum.
In 1941, the Reverend Dr. Louis Evans Sr. became pastor. Dr. Evans continued the tradition of strong pulpit ministry. He invested in lay ministry. During his time, church membership grew from 1,400 to 8,900 after the war.
Also in 1941, Dr. Charles and Mrs. Lucy Hirt became music directors. They founded the Cathedral Choir. They expanded the ministry of adult and children’s choirs. The Hirts led the choirs to offer music as a spiritual experience. They saw it as a ministry and witness, not just a performance.
The Reverend Dr. Richard Halverson helped develop World Vision and International Christian Leadership. Later, he became the Chaplain to the U.S. Senate. Grace Presbyterian Church started a ministry. It sent college students to minister to war-torn Europe. They also helped needy areas in their own city.
The Reverend Dr. Raymond Lindquist became pastor in 1953. He was known as a “poet of the pulpit”. He served until 1972. In the 1960s, the Reverend Dr. Don Williams started a coffee house ministry. It was called “The Salt Company”. It was for the young people of Hollywood.
The Reverend Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie became Senior Pastor in 1972. He served until 1995. During his time, he oversaw the development of significant ministries. In 1978, Dr. Ogilvie began Let God Love You, a national television ministry. The Munger Center for Counseling opened. It offered Christ-centered services to the community. In 1987, members of Grace Presbyterian Church started Actors Co-op theater ministries. Other ministries reached out to the entertainment community. These included Inter-Mission, Act One: Writing for Hollywood, and the Hollywood Prayer Network.
The Hollywood Urban Project ministry had a physical presence. It used a team of City Dwellers. The Lord’s Lighthouse was started. Today, it offers physical and spiritual food. It also provides social services and shelter to those on the streets.
In 2010, Reverend Dan Baumgartner became the Senior Pastor. Grace Presbyterian Church grew into a church. It is now multi-generational. It focuses on community. It thrives in an urban context.
So, as you stand before Grace Presbyterian Church remember its long history. It is a story of faith, community, and service.