Walnut Grove Buddhist Church

Walnut Grove, known to Issei Japanese as "Kawashimo," was settled by Japanese immigrants in the early 20th century. By the end of World War I, many families were established. The growth of successive generations prompted the need for religious service within the community.

Around 1923, Dharma talks (法話会 hōwakai) became a regular practice that were held within Japanese homes. Ministers from the Buddhist Church of Sacramento traveled 25 miles to conduct these services. On other occasions, such as funerals, the community would travel to Sacramento.

In 1924, a Buddhist Sunday School was formed by Tome Yoshida with about fifteen students. The tables and benches used can still be found in her house today.

The church was established in 1926 and the church building completed a year later in 1927. It was recognized as a branch of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento. On February 1, 1931, it broke off from the larger church and became independent with 130 members.

On January 29, 1935, the temple hosted visiting Renshi Shojo Ohtani, who led the confirmation of nearly 100 members.

On the same year of the temple's establishment, a medical health club (白菊会,shiragikukai) was started by a group of ten teenage girls. In June 1930, a group of younger children assisted in the establishment of the Young Girls Buddhist Association (YGBA, 少女会, shōjokai), serving as the equivalent of the local Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) that was established two years earlier. The Buddhist Women's Association (婦人会, funjinkai) was officially organized on January 8, 1932.In May 1938, the YMBA and YWBA merged to form the Young Buddhist Association (YBA).