First Congregational Church of Los Angeles

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles
34°3′51.8″N 118°17′5.4″W / 34.064389°N 118.284833°W / 34.064389; -118.284833Coordinates: 34°3′51.8″N 118°17′5.4″W / 34.064389°N 118.284833°W / 34.064389; -118.284833
Location	540 S Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Country	United States
Denomination	National Association of Congregational Christian Churches and United Church of Christ
Churchmanship	Congregational
Membership	491
Weekly attendance	225
Website	www.fccla.org
History
Status	Church
Founded	1867 (1867)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Allison & Allison
Style	English Gothic Revival
Completed	1932
Specifications
Height	157 ft (48 m) (tower)
Floor area	157,000 sq ft (14,600 m2)
Materials	Reinforced concrete
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)	Dr. R. Scott Colglazier
Laity
Organist(s)	Dr. Christoph Bull

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is a historic church at 540 South Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, California, United States. It is a member of National Association of Congregational Christian Churches since 1962^[1], though the congregation also joined the United Church of Christ in the fall of 2017^[2]. Founded in 1867, the church is the city's oldest continuous Protestant congregation.^[3] The congregation moved around using a variety of buildings until it moved to its current location in 1932, with the first service being held on March 13, 1932.^[4]

The current building is an impressive English Gothic Revival-style designed by Los Angeles' architects James Edward Allison & David Clark Allison, the massive concrete structure was reinforced with more than 500 tons of steel. Its dominant feature is a tower soaring 157 feet and weighing 30,000 tons. There are four three-ton pinnacles at the corners of the tower rise another nineteen feet. Supported by more than 150 caissons extending up to forty-five feet into the bedrock.^[5] The church is claimed to house the world's second largest church organ.

On March 15, 2002, the church was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission.^[6]

Organ

The church has the world's second largest church organ although, similar to the instrument at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau (five organs, one console), it is really two separate organs playing from twin consoles. A Skinner organ, built in 1931, is in the front of the building and a Schlicker (of Buffalo, New York) in the rear balcony. Today the organs play some 20,000 pipes with five manuals, 346 ranks, 233 registers, and 265 stops although it is continually being enlarged.^[7][8] It has been restored three times, most recently in 1995 by Robert David.^[9] Recordings of this instrument appear on Telarc and Delos labels.

Media

The church has been a popular location for commercials, films, music videos, and television shows.^[10][11]

References