“What if these walls could talk?” They would tell tales of faith. They would speak of community. Right here stands the University Avenue Baptist Church. This church is more than just a building. It’s a landmark of faith in San Diego County. The University Avenue Baptist Church sits at N32.75283 degrees latitude and W117.06642 degrees longitude. It rises 341 feet above sea level. You can find it on the USGS 1:24K topographic map of La Mesa, CA.
Now let’s step back in time. Picture San Diego in 1869. Alonzo Horton believed new San Diego needed Christian congregations. He challenged Protestant denominations to build churches. A small group gathered. They met in a small room downtown. It was June 5, 1869. Rev. C. F. Weston organized the First Baptist congregation.
Soon, they began building their first church. It opened on October 3, 1869. This building stood on Seventh Street near F. Alonzo Horton donated the land. Horton also gifted them a church bell. It was the first church bell in new San Diego. The Horton Prize Bell was dedicated on October 31st, 1869. Rev. B. S. McLafferty arrived in December 1869. He took charge of the congregation.
As the congregation grew they built a new church building. This was in 1888. It stood on the corner of 10th and E. But the story of the original bell doesn’t end there. Today, that bell resides in the rafters. It is in the current building in University City. It still rings on special occasions.
The University Avenue Baptist Church continues this legacy. It welcomes all to worship. It is a place to meet and celebrate faith. It’s a place where the community comes together. The church’s main phone number is 619-582-1158. The University Avenue Baptist Church invites you to worship with them. They want to meet you.
Today the University Avenue Baptist Church stands as a testament. It honors the early faithful. It embraces the future with open arms. It continues to serve the community. It offers a place of worship. It is a spiritual home for many. The church connects the past and the present. It keeps the spirit of early San Diego alive. Remember the ringing of the Horton Prize Bell. Think of the small group meeting downtown. Consider the legacy of faith. This is the story of the University Avenue Baptist Church.