First Christian Church - Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

Built by the Methodists in 1887 after their original building was lost to a windstorm, this brick structure is the oldest church in Lake Elsinore (originally Elsinore).  It was sold to the First Christian congregation in 1923 and has been continuously occupied since then as the First Christian Church.  Prominent features are stained glass windows and the nearly 50-foot tall steeple housing an antique bell.

In February 2013 the Valley of the Mist Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century placed a commemorative plaque in recognition of the building's historical significance.

A photograph at the Lake Elsinore Museum of the Methodist's 1887 dedication ceremony includes a figure believed to be Wyatt Earp - a tall mustached man in a white shirt standing at the top of the steps in front of the door.

Wyatt Earp Believed to be in 1887 Church Photo

Located at 503 West Heald Avenue at the northeast corner of Heald Avenue and Poe Street.

Seventh-Day Adventist Church - Escondido, CA, USA

Seven churches were originally granted land by the Escondido Land & Trust Company, this being one of those original seven.  Constructed in 1887 this brick church originally served the Southern Methodists.  It was sold in 1900 to the Seventh-day Adventists who occupied it for a number of years.  It has been enlarged several times and today is occupied by Iglesia Monte De Los Olivos, a Christian church.

An extension has been added to the rear of the original church.

Another extension to the side of the original structure along 4th Avenue.

Located at 331 West 4th Avenue, the original church structure is located on the corner of 4th Avenue and Orange Street.

Time Capsule, Mission San Luis Rey - Oceanside, CA, USA

In 1998 Mission San Luis Rey de Francia celebrated the Bicentennial of its founding.  As part of the celebration a time capsule was placed in the floor of the Mission Sanctuary to be opened in 50 years.

MISSION SAN LUIS REY

BICENTENNIAL TIME CAPSULE

1798 - 1998

to be opened 2048

Located at 4050 Mission Avenue.  The time capsule is in the floor of the Mission Sanctuary, just inside the entrance, to the right.

Peace Pole - Escondido, CA, USA

This four-sided Peace Pole is inscribed with the phrase "May Peace Prevail On Earth" in English and seven other languages.  There are two languages displayed on each side.  Additionally there is a small metal plaque in Braille.  It is located at the front of the First United Methodist Church along Fourth Avenue.

Located at 341 South Kalmia Street at the intersection of Fourth Avenue.

First Church of Christ, Scientist - Oceanside, CA, USA

Oceanside's First Church of Christ, Scientist was established in 1934 with the joining of the Carlsbad church and the Oceanside church.  Their church was built in 1937 on property purchased in 1928.  The building continues to house the First Church of Christ, Scientist to this day.

 A Christian Science Reading Room adjoins the sanctuary.

Located at 300 South Ditmar Street on the southeast corner of South Ditmar Street and Michigan Avenue.

Crest Theater - Oceanside, CA, USA

In 1950 Erwin Sklar purchased property in downtown Oceanside and began construction of this Steamline Moderne theater.  When the Crest Theater opened around March of 1951 it was one of the largest single-screen movie theaters in San Diego County.  It screened family-friendly films for several decades.  Eventually it was taken over by Pussycat Theatres and continued to operate as a movie theater until the late 1980s.  It is presently home to a church, Grace Chapel of the Coast.  The movie screen remains and films are occaisionally shown there.  The sign that now has the letters G R A C E originally held the letters C R E S T.  The pillar and planter below was originally the location of the ticket booth.

Located at 102 - 108 North Freeman Street on the northeast corner of Freeman Street and Seagaze Drive (formerly First Street).

First United Methodist Church - Escondido, CA, USA

Incorporated in November 1886 as the Methodist Episcopal Church of Escondido, this is Escondido's oldest Protestant church.  Their first permanent building was dedicated in August 1887 at Grand Avenue and Ivy Street.  By 1924 the congregation had outgrown the building and a new structure was built at the corner of Kalmia Street and Fourth Avenue (formerly Illinois Avenue).  A Greek-style cement block building, it was dedicated in December 1921.  In 1939 the First Methodist Episcopal Church became the First Methodist Church.  To accommodate the growing congregation that building was demolished in 1964 and the present structure was built on the same site in 1965.  In 1968, through more mergers, the First Methodist Church became the First United Methodist Church.

The front of the building, facing Fourth Avenue, features an enormous stained-glass facade.



Located at 341 South Kalmia Street at the intersection of Fourth Avenue.

Peace Pole - Escondido, CA, USA

This four-sided Peace Pole is inscribed with the phrase "May Peace Prevail On Earth" in English, American Sign Language, Spanish, Hebrew, Japanese, Chinese, Kumeyaay and Somali.  There are two languages displayed on each side.  Additionally there is a small metal plaque in Braille.

"This Peace Pole is a gift from Escondido First United Methodist Church October 2010"

Located in Grape Day Park at 321 North Broadway.

Bunker House - Oceanside, CA, USA

Built in 1886 by Theodore C. Bunker, this 2-story brick building served as both his family's home and a boarding house.  In late 1887 Oceanside's First Baptist Church was both organized and held meetings here for about a year until a church building was constructed.  Many years later, in the 1960s and 1970s, it had become the Traveler's Hotel and was known to be the site of prostitution activity.  One of the building's owners was stabbed to death there in 1976 after which the building sat vacant and dilapidated.  In 1992 it was purchased and turned into an artists' gallery and studios.  The neighborhood has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years and the Bunker House is presently occupied by Apotheque, a day spa.  This building is the oldest brick residential/commercial structure remaining in Oceanside.  Some of the windows still contain old "wavy glass" panes.

Located at 322 North Cleveland Street on the southeast corner of North Cleveland and Civic Center Drive (formerly Fourth Street).

St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church - Oceanside, CA, USA

This Spanish Revival style church building, designed by Los Angeles architect Emmet G. Martin, was built in 1927.  It replaced a small wooden parish built in 1896 at the same location.  St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Parish operates under the administration of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego.

Located at 609 Pier View Way (formerly Third Street), on the southwest corner of Pier View Way and North Ditmar Street.

First Baptist Church - Fallbrook, CA, USA

The First Baptist Church of Fallbrook has been located on this site since 1888.  High on a hill above the town, the steeple once dominated the skyline.  In 1968 the original building, then the oldest remaining church structure in San Diego County, was torn down to make way for a new building.  Services have been held in the present structure since March of 1970.

Located at 125 West Hawthorne Street on the northeast corner of West Hawthorne Street and North Pico Street.

First United Methodist Church - Oceanside, CA, USA

The oldest church building in Oceanside was built by the Congregationalists in 1886.  They sold the building to the Methodists in 1896 and it became the First United Methodist Church.  Methodist services were held there until September 1995 when the First United Methodist Church merged with the South Oceanside United Methodist Church.
Several different churches have occupied the building since that time.  It is presently home to Calvary Chapel Living Hope church.

Located at 625 Seagaze Drive (formerly First Street), at the southwest corner of Seagaze and Ditmar Street.

Old St. Michael's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church - Carlsbad, CA, USA

Built in 1894 and originally located at Lincoln Street and Oak Street, the gothic-style church was once the only church in Carlsbad and is one of the four oldest buildings in the village.  It was moved to it's present location in January of 1959 where it serves as the Chapel on the grounds of the present St. Michael's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

Located at 2775 Carlsbad Boulevard.

United Methodist Church - Winchester, CA, USA

Organized in 1886 as the Methodist Episcopal Church, the building was completed in 1887.  It is still active today.

Located at 33005 Taylor Street.