Imagine a mortuary transformed into a house of worship. That’s part of the story of Torrey Pines Christian Church. It stands here as a beacon of faith and community.
Let’s step back in time to 1959. Dr. Ewart H. Wyle moved from Kansas City. He left a large congregation to lead services at La Jolla Mortuary. A retired medical school dean had persuaded him to come west. The mortuary became a temporary home for the church.
Before that, services were held in Dr. Wyle’s home. They also took place in La Jolla Country Day School classrooms. Edward H. Hashinger, a former dean, was one of the first attendees. He donated funds to build the church.
In December 1962, Torrey Pines Christian Church moved into its new building. It was located on La Jolla Scenic Drive North. The church soon welcomed hundreds of parishioners. The land for the church cost $64000. It was purchased in December 1961.
David Blair managed Benbough Investment Co. His company operated La Jolla Mortuary. He was another founding member. Dr. Wyle later helped Blair select a site. That site became El Camino Memorial Park and Mortuary.
Dr. Wyle served as the full-time pastor until 1979. Then, he became minister emeritus. By that time, Torrey Pines Christian Church had 1436 members. He even served as a substitute pastor after retirement. His last service was from a wheelchair.
Richard Peerson knew Dr. Wyle for 40 years. He said Dr. Wyle was dynamic. He was an outstanding preacher with a great sense of humor.
In November 1986, the chapel was named Wyle Chapel. This honored Dr. Wyle’s service.
Dr. Wyle came from a long line of ministers. Eight generations of his family had been ministers. His parents were missionaries. He joined them in the United States in 1920.
He was also involved in scouting. As a youth, he was a Cub Scout under Lord Baden-Powell. He earned the Eagle Scout rank. He received the Silver Beaver award.
Torrey Pines Christian Church has evolved over the years. In 2015, it joined the Community Church Movement. The first service as part of the movement was on Easter Sunday in 2016.
The Community Church Movement invested in renovations. These included the worship center and sanctuary. New families join every week.
Pastor Michael Spitters once spoke about emergent worship. He said it’s about getting out of something. He wanted to avoid worship that seemed like “playing at worshipping God.”
The church displays traditional symbols. The rose window above the altar features IHS. It also has “Holy, Holy, Holy” written across the cover cloth. Brick walls symbolize history and stability.
Torrey Pines Christian Church offers both contemporary and traditional services. It continues to be a place where people connect with God. It is also a place to connect with each other. It embodies faith, community and evolution. The Torrey Pines Christian Church has a bright future to match its accomplished past.