St. John's Presbyterian Church (San Francisco, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint John's Presbyterian Church
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 Location in San Francisco County
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 25 Lake St. and 201 Arguello Blvd., San Francisco, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Dodge & Dolliver |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival Shingle Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001555 |
| Added to NRHP | January 22, 1996 |
St. John's Presbyterian Church is a welcoming church located in San Francisco. You can find it in the northern Richmond District at 25 Lake Street and 201 Arguello Boulevard. This church is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The church building was finished in 1905. It was designed in a special style called Gothic Revival Shingle Style. Because of its unique design and history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This means it's an important historical place!
Contents
History of St. John's Church
Early Beginnings
St. John's Church first started in a different spot. It was on Post Street, near Mason Street. This first building was actually an older church, built in 1866. St. John's bought it in 1870 for $45,000.
Dr. William Anderson Scott was the first pastor, starting in May 1870. He was also the person who founded the San Francisco Theological Seminary. During his time, the church grew a lot! The number of members went from 61 to 382 by 1885. In 1888, the church moved to a new location at California and Octavia Streets.
Moving to the Richmond District
After the move, the church faced some challenges. The number of members went down, and it was hard to pay the mortgage. Another church, Calvary Presbyterian, shared the building for a while. They helped pay the mortgage, and there was even talk about the two churches joining together.
However, St. John's decided to move again in 1902. This time, they moved to their current spot in the Richmond District. A person named Arthur W. Foster helped them with money for this move.
The 1906 Earthquake and Beyond
When the church moved to the Richmond District, the area looked very different. There were mostly sand dunes around the new site. Later, many houses were built in the neighborhood.
The first church service in the new building was held on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1906. Just three days later, the famous San Francisco earthquake hit! The church building was damaged, and it took a whole year to fix it. While repairs were happening, church services were held in members' homes.
After the earthquake, many people moved across the Bay to Berkeley. Some former members of St. John's started a new church there. They also called it St. John's Presbyterian Church. Dr. George Granville Eldridge, who used to be a pastor at the San Francisco church, became the first pastor of the new church in Berkeley.
Want to Learn More?
- Visit the St. John's Church Website
