Gathered by Historians: Mrs. Laura Edwin, Mr. Dick Flahive and Mrs. Marian Buck
Copyright © 2002, All Rights Reserved. The contents of this page may not be reproduced without express written consent of the author.
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The Methodist Church of Redondo Beach has an interesting history. The first minister assigned in 1887 to the Church was the Reverend S. J. Flemming. The church was held in the homes of members until 1889 when a structure was built on the corner of Garnet Street and Francisca Avenue. In 1906, this Church was physically moved to the corner of Diamond Street and Catalina Avenue, a larger site. As the congregation grew, an addition was added on the back of the Church for class rooms and a kitchen. Later still, the high school age and young adult classes were held across the street in the home of P. S. Venable, a member of this church.
The building we call The United Methodist Church was built on land deeded to the Dominguez Family as part of their Spanish Land Grant. In 1889 the County of Los Angeles recorded a deed, transferring lot numbers 32, 33, 34 and 35 of plot 180, on the map of the town site of Redondo Beach, to a Mr. George J. Ainsworth. The deed on file at the Los Angeles County Hall of Records reads: "...as effectively transferred on November 11, 1887." Mr. Ainsworth was a leader of an Oregon lumber firm, developing the city as a commercial shipping harbor for their lumber business. Mr. Ainsworth bought the property for $5.00 from these three Dominguez sisters: Maria de Los Reyes Dominguez, Susana D. Dominguez, and Guadalupe Marcelina Dominguez.
In 1922 the Methodist Church of Redondo Beach bought this land from Mr. Ainsworth to build a larger church. The Church paid $20,000 for the property. A nice bit of profit for either Mr. Ainsworth or the company he represented. The building of the Methodist Church was started in 1926, dedicated in 1927, and the cornerstone laid in 1929. There have been many interior changes, but the original structure stands today on the corner of Torrance Boulevard (originally Opal Street) and Broadway Avenue (originally Dominguez Avenue).
The basic structure, as it stood in 1927, still stands today as our Sanctuary. The new facilities must have seemed large after out-growing the old facilities. The sanctuary of the Church was planned for a large congregation. The side walls had windows that slid back into the wall in case of overflow crowds. On the north and south side of the Sanctuary were the education rooms. There was a large dining hall, and a nice well equipped kitchen on the north side of the education rooms. North of the dining hall was a large rolling lawn from the alley behind the church to Broadway. The restrooms were in the basement!
The new Church was large enough to house the growing congregation for many years. As the congregation grew, classes were held in various rooms throughout the Church. The dining hall, the kitchen, both tower rooms, and for many years, two adult classes were held in different corners of the Sanctuary and balcony. Sometime in the 1930's an unused car barn from Pacific Electric Railroad was moved on the property north of the dining hall at the top of the rolling lawn. It served for many purposes as youth classes, scout hall, and recreation hall where basketball and volleyball were enjoyed. Through the 1940's our Church was used as a disaster shelter when the waves displaced many families living along the shoreline north of the Redondo Pier. It served during Word War II as a haven for servicemen and their families. The official Memorial Service for World War II Servicemen in the South Bay was held in our sanctuary in an ecumenical service for all.
In 1951 the May Day Parlor, the education building, and two new restrooms were built. A memorial stained glass window was placed in this hallway in 1952. In 1956, the Church built the Nursery and another education building. By 1969 the barn, kitchen, and dining hall were removed, making way for the fellowship hall, new kitchen, office space and the youth lounge with a stage and fireplace.
Our hugh stained-glass Gethsemane Window was given in 1933 by Ella Warner in memory of her husband, The Reverend Jusice Warner. It was installed on the east face of the Sanctuary where only the minister and choir could view it during morning services. In the 1940's, the Gethsemane Window was moved to the west side of the Sanctuary for the congregation to enjoy. By 2001, the congregation decided to restore and add a new blue stained-glass cross incorporated with the Gethsemane Window.
Our Methodist Church of Redondo Beach has had a long history as a musical church. Many levels of choirs have performed here as well as instrumental performances. Our hand bell choir has continuously participated in church services since 1961 when the hand bells were given as a gift. They have gone on to competitions in our region and as far away as Hawaii. The Rodgers Classic Organ was donated in 1993, and the Baldwin Piano in the Sanctuary was a memorial gift given in 1996. The 1911 Steinway Piano was a memorial gift placed in the choir room in 2001. This piano has been used in small concerts that have been given by professional musicians for the public.
There have been name changes, but one continuous congregation at our local Methodist Church. In 1939 The Methodist Episcopal Church, became The Methodist Church. In 1968 the name was changed to The United Methodist Church when The Methodist Church and the United Brethren Church merged.
The United Methodist Church took up an outreach program in 1992 called Shared Bread. Our church prepares evening meals every Wednesday for the homeless and needy of our community.
The United Methodist Church stands today at Broadway and Torrance Boulevard, as it stood in 1927, by the Grace of God; and the foresight, wisdom and manpower of dedicated laity and clergy for more than a hundred years. With God's leadership, the Redondo Beach congregation of the United Methodist Church will continue our Christian Witness for years to come.
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