Built in 1932 Bethany United Presbyterian Church stands proudly at 1629 Griffith Park Boulevard. This Romanesque-style church cost $75000 to build. That’s about $115 million today. Its name honors Bethany the hometown of Lazarus. Initially the congregation was exclusively white. This reflected the racist housing covenants of the time. These covenants were not legally overturned until 1948.
Following the landmark Shelley v Kraemer Supreme Court case things changed. Silver Lake became a hub for Asian-American modernism. Bethany Presbyterian Church welcomed Asian Americans into its membership. Delbert E Wong a prominent Chinese American judge became a member. He even chaired a National Conference of Christians and Jews program.
In 1965 a significant cultural event unfolded within Bethany’s walls. The East-West Players a groundbreaking Asian-American theater company was founded there. Actors like James Hong and Mako Iwamatsu were part of this innovative group. Bethany provided their first home. The East-West Players later moved to East Hollywood. They eventually found a new home at Union Church.
By 1980 Bethany Presbyterian Church’s congregation was dwindling. It then merged with a Korean congregation. This created Bethany United Presbyterian Church. For a time services were entirely in Korean. Unfortunately even with this revitalization church services ended in the mid-2000s. Dana Hollister a well-known local businesswoman then purchased the building. She planned to transform it into a boutique hotel. Hollister’s business ventures have included several bars and restaurants. She also had ambitions of owning the Earle C Anthony Estate. This involved a complex legal battle that resulted in Hollister declaring bankruptcy. The future of Bethany United Presbyterian Church remains uncertain.
This beautiful building with its Romanesque architecture has much potential. It has served as a church a theater and possibly will become a hotel. It’s a testament to the changing landscape of Silver Lake. The church continues to stand as a reminder of the community it once served and the vibrant history it holds.