Wilshire United Methodist Church
 | |
| Industry | Methodist church |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1924 |
| Headquarters | 4350 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Website | wilshireumcmem.org |
Wilshire United Methodist Church is a Methodist church located at 4350 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. It was built in 1924. It is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 114.[1]
History
Designed by Allison and Allison, the Wilshire United Methodist Church is rendered in the Gothic Revival[2] and Romanesque Revival styles.[1] It includes a 144-foot tower in the style of the Moorish La Giralda in Seville, Spain, a thirteenth-century campanile,[1] and seats 1,000.[3]
The church began as a Congregational parish but became Methodist in 1931.[4] In its early years, Frank Dyer, the church's founding pastor, created controversy by holding a jazz concert in the sanctuary and by staging a church fundraiser at the Olympic Auditorium that was to include prizefighter Jack Dempsey.[2]
The church hosted the weddings of Jeannette MacDonald (1937) and Shirley Temple (1945).[2][5][6]
In 1994, the building was set on fire by an arsonist, causing nearly five million dollars in damage, including a destroyed pipe organ. It took 15 fire companies an hour to extinguish the blaze.[4] While the church was being restored, services were held at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple across the street.[7] The church was fully restored in 1995.[2][4]
The church provides services in English, Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog, and is welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community.[4] Angel City Chorale performs at the church.[8] Community groups such as the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Cub Scouts, and Alcoholics Anonymous have all used the church as a meeting place.[7][9]
Gallery
References
- 1 2 3 "Wilshire United Methodist Church Historical Marker".
- 1 2 3 4 "Wilshire United Methodist Church".
- ↑ "Many Tongues, One Faith". Los Angeles Times. 5 May 2001.
- 1 2 3 4 "Congregants Mourn Church's Latest Fire : Religion: Damage from the second blaze this month is put at $1.2 million. Leaders worry about the less tangible effects on their multicultural Wilshire district membership". Los Angeles Times. 29 June 1994.
- ↑ "News media at Shirley Temple's wedding". tessa2.lapl.org. 1945. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Shirley and Sergeant Agar, Leaving Church". 1945.
- 1 2 "WINDSOR SQUARE : Church Struggles to Recover from Fire". Los Angeles Times. 31 July 1994.
- ↑ "Angel City Chorale Celebrates Its First Two Decades in Song with 20th Anniversary Concerts | Angel City Chorale". 4 April 2013.
- ↑ "Big Ovation for Gay Men's Chorus : Endorsement by Coffin Turns Snub of Colleague into an Invitation". Los Angeles Times. 22 July 1989.