Community Organizations and Churches on Church Row
Ocean Beach (OB) in San Diego is a relatively small historic preservation district of about 30 square blocks between Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and the Beach. Since the 1930s, several blocks along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard have been designated “Church Row” on maps and documents preserved by the OB Historical Society and the OB Town Council. Six historic churches still have congregations along Church Row: Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic), Resurrection Church (Episcopal), Holy Trinity (Anglican), OB One Church (Baptist), St. Peter’s by the Sea (Lutheran), and Submerge (a non-denominational church plant currently meeting one block away on Main Street).
An additional historic church on Church Row, the Point Loma United Methodist/Water’s Edge faith community, was recently closed. However, the building continues to serve as a vital community hub, hosting six groups that provide services:
Loaves and Fishes food bank (serving 500+ every Monday)
OB Historical Society (preserving local history since 1994)
Largest NA/AA Twelve Step meetings in the area
San Diego’s Living Well van (assisting families onsite twice a month)
Veteran’s Village outreach (helping secure housing and support services)
The Pioneer School (educating 56 students with significant developmental and behavioural challenges)
The six active churches on Church Row tend to minister independently within their buildings, with limited neighbourhood outreach. Current pastoral leadership may not be familiar with one another or with each other’s properties. Yet, by working together, they have greater potential to serve their neighbours and to transform the world, one block at a time.
Peninsula Faith Leaders—sponsor of Church Row Ocean Beach, San Diego
Church Row is thus a coalition of faith and community leaders in Ocean Beach committed to cultivating community ministry on historic Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, where six churches were built over a century ago. They have adopted a faith-based community development approach (SHALOM) that views the immediate neighbourhood as their shared parish, extending ministry beyond church walls.
The coalition’s first engagement was sponsoring a one-mile pilgrim walk down Church Row on Good Friday, stopping to pray at seven stations along the way. Over 200 church and community members participated in this walk of faith. Their next initiative will be a community meal, along with supporting the Ocean Beach Street Fair and Holiday Parade with a message of Shalom in all its fullness.
Visit their new website to learn more about their purpose, presence, programmes, and proclamations (public sermons and OpEds for the common good): www.churchrowOB.org
