First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood
Encyclopedia
The First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood has had a significant impact on both the Presbyterian Church and evangelical Christianity around the world.
The church was founded in 1903. A large brick gothic
sanctuary was built in 1923, and seats 1,700, with a balcony on both sides and in the back. The church campus covers a full square block on Gower Street, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks from the legendary intersection of Hollywood and Vine.
“Hollywood Pres”, as it is informally known grew to be the largest Presbyterian Church in the world by the mid-1960s. It has been led by some of the nation’s most renowned clergymen.
Dr. Louis H. Evans was senior pastor from 1941 to 1953, by which time the membership exceeded 6,000. Evans left to become “Minister at Large” for the Presbyterian Board of National Missions.
Evans was succeeded by Dr. Raymond I. Lindquist, who served the church until 1971. During his tenure, the church reached its peak membership of 8,388. During these years, the church drew congregants from an area much larger than the Hollywood community, taking advantage of its access to the Los Angeles freeway system (the church is located one block south of the Gower Street exit from the Hollywood Freeway). In Dr. Lindquist's tenure, overflow congregations were the norm, with the sanctuary filled for Sunday morning services at 9:30 and 11:00. In the early 1960s, overflow congregations were served in the church gymnasium (the pre-1923 sanctuary) by closed-circuit television. Dr. Lindquist died in 2001.
Dr. Henrietta Mears
served as Christian Education Director until her death in 1963. Dr. Mears also founded the Forest Home Christian conference center in the San Bernardino Mountains
and Gospel Light Press.
Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie
became Senior Pastor in 1971, by which time membership had fallen to 5,000. Dr. Ogilvie's ministry extended beyond the physical doors of the church, however, through his successful nationwide televised ministry. His ministry was also of a significant impact to those in the entertainment industry For example, Jimmy Stewart was a regular attender at Hollywood Pres.
Ogilvie left March 11, 1995 to become Chaplain of the United States Senate. Ogilvie was the second former Hollywood Presbyterian minister to serve in that capacity. Dr. Richard C. Halverson
, who was pastor of 4th Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland (a Washington, DC suburb( served as Senate chaplain immediately before Dr. Ogilvie (1981-1994). Halverson had served as an assistant pastor at “Hollywood Pres” in the 1950s. Church membership was approximately 3,000 at the end of Dr. Ogilvie’s tenure. Ogilvie served as Senate chaplain until 2003.
Dr. Ogilvie was followed by Dr. Alan Meenan in 1997. Dr. Meenan served the church for eight years before leaving to launch an international Bible Study ministry called "The Word Is Out." In 2006 Dr. Gary Stratman was asked to come and serve as interim pastor until a new pastor was found. Summer of 2009 found Stratman exiting onto another calling, where the duties of interim pastor have now been filled by Dr. Paul Pierson & Rev. Bill Hansen.
In 2010 Hollywood Presbyterian selected Rev. Daniel Baumgartner as its new senior pastor. Rev. Baumgartner had previously served as pastor of congregations in Seattle and Minneapolis.
According to Presbyterian Church in the USA statistics, the 2006 membership was 2,008, but by 2010 had fallen to 950. Sunday attendance averaged approximately 700, which declined from 1,400 in 2002.
Hollywood Pres has historically been an evangelical church in a somewhat liberal Christian denomination.
The church was founded in 1903. A large brick gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
sanctuary was built in 1923, and seats 1,700, with a balcony on both sides and in the back. The church campus covers a full square block on Gower Street, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks from the legendary intersection of Hollywood and Vine.
“Hollywood Pres”, as it is informally known grew to be the largest Presbyterian Church in the world by the mid-1960s. It has been led by some of the nation’s most renowned clergymen.
Dr. Louis H. Evans was senior pastor from 1941 to 1953, by which time the membership exceeded 6,000. Evans left to become “Minister at Large” for the Presbyterian Board of National Missions.
Evans was succeeded by Dr. Raymond I. Lindquist, who served the church until 1971. During his tenure, the church reached its peak membership of 8,388. During these years, the church drew congregants from an area much larger than the Hollywood community, taking advantage of its access to the Los Angeles freeway system (the church is located one block south of the Gower Street exit from the Hollywood Freeway). In Dr. Lindquist's tenure, overflow congregations were the norm, with the sanctuary filled for Sunday morning services at 9:30 and 11:00. In the early 1960s, overflow congregations were served in the church gymnasium (the pre-1923 sanctuary) by closed-circuit television. Dr. Lindquist died in 2001.
Dr. Henrietta Mears
Henrietta Mears
Henrietta Cornelia Mears was a Christian educator and author who had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century....
served as Christian Education Director until her death in 1963. Dr. Mears also founded the Forest Home Christian conference center in the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
and Gospel Light Press.
Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie
Lloyd John Ogilvie
Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie is a Presbyterian minister who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate from 104th through 107th Congresses .-Early years:Lloyd John Oglivie, was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, September 2, 1930...
became Senior Pastor in 1971, by which time membership had fallen to 5,000. Dr. Ogilvie's ministry extended beyond the physical doors of the church, however, through his successful nationwide televised ministry. His ministry was also of a significant impact to those in the entertainment industry For example, Jimmy Stewart was a regular attender at Hollywood Pres.
Ogilvie left March 11, 1995 to become Chaplain of the United States Senate. Ogilvie was the second former Hollywood Presbyterian minister to serve in that capacity. Dr. Richard C. Halverson
Richard C. Halverson
The Reverend Richard Christian Halverson, D.D., , was born in Pingree, North Dakota. He attended Valley City State Teacher College in Valley City, North Dakota, before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1939, participating in the Wheaton College Men's...
, who was pastor of 4th Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland (a Washington, DC suburb( served as Senate chaplain immediately before Dr. Ogilvie (1981-1994). Halverson had served as an assistant pastor at “Hollywood Pres” in the 1950s. Church membership was approximately 3,000 at the end of Dr. Ogilvie’s tenure. Ogilvie served as Senate chaplain until 2003.
Dr. Ogilvie was followed by Dr. Alan Meenan in 1997. Dr. Meenan served the church for eight years before leaving to launch an international Bible Study ministry called "The Word Is Out." In 2006 Dr. Gary Stratman was asked to come and serve as interim pastor until a new pastor was found. Summer of 2009 found Stratman exiting onto another calling, where the duties of interim pastor have now been filled by Dr. Paul Pierson & Rev. Bill Hansen.
In 2010 Hollywood Presbyterian selected Rev. Daniel Baumgartner as its new senior pastor. Rev. Baumgartner had previously served as pastor of congregations in Seattle and Minneapolis.
According to Presbyterian Church in the USA statistics, the 2006 membership was 2,008, but by 2010 had fallen to 950. Sunday attendance averaged approximately 700, which declined from 1,400 in 2002.
Hollywood Pres has historically been an evangelical church in a somewhat liberal Christian denomination.