Preservation Where There’s Prayer

Long Beach natives and newcomers alike always have a place where they can come to compare and contrast the city of the past with the present.

Our Long Beach Then & Now column features images of buildings and neighborhoods from yesteryear and puts them beside photos taken from the same area today. Our second such column focuses on some of the city’s oldest churches: The People’s Church, St. James of Jerusalem Episcopal Church and St. Mary of the Isle Church and Rectory.

The People’s Church

Founded in 1921, The People’s Church has been a landmark in the West End on the northwest corner of Delaware Avenue and West Park Avenue for 90 years. The church was actually built in 1922, and just a few years later it was physically raised to provide a basement for the growing congregation. In comparing the vintage postcard of the original church and the current photo, one can easily notice the added height of the front doors.

In 1923, Senator William Reynolds, the original developer of Long Beach, donated a stained glass window to the church known as “The Good Shepherd Window.” There is a parsonage immediately to the north of the church and Pastor Campo is currently renovating it with the help of his parishioners.

St. James of Jerusalem Episcopal Church

Founded in 1880, St. James claims a special place on West Penn Street in the heart of Long Beach’s historic Red Brick District. The church was built in 1935 and almost 80 years later it remains much the same. The land just to the east of the church abuts Magnolia Boulevard and serves as a wonderful garden for the church and its parishioners. The red doors of the church serve as a sign of refuge and sanctuary for all who enter.

St. Mary of the Isle Church and Rectory

Located on the southeast corner of East Park Avenue and Monroe Boulevard, St. Mary of the Isle Church originally served as a summer retreat of Monsignor George Mundelein and visiting priests.  The rectory is located just to south, on East Walnut Street, and predates the church building by several years.  

Comparing the photo of today’s rectory shows some obvious changes from the original building that was built in 1915. For one, the bell tower on the south side of the rectory was removed along with the balcony on the western side. The Reverend Thomas Donohoe Parish Hall was added in 1947.

If you have past and present photos that you would like to provide for a Then & Now column, please email them with captions to: josephk@patch.com.