Back to Sanctuary

After being partially closed for renovations for two and a half years, the Laguna Presbyterian Church will host its grand reopening of the Sanctuary from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Sunday.

A rededication of the Sanctuary will take place during the morning service Jan. 24, in addition to a welcome home concert at 4 p.m. with music of thanksgiving and praise by the Chancel and Bell Choirs, Praise Team and a guest orchestra, said Lorna Cohen, a member of the church.

The 1927 Sanctuary building, in a major flood plane, suffered many floods over the years and had to be entirely rebuilt, at a cost of $12 million.

“It was seismically unsafe,” Cohen said. “Even the roofing had lost its felt, and the sky was actually visible through the old tiles.”

The city also required that the parking lot and Blue House adjacent to it be restored, and that improvements be made to the preschool to accommodate children during the renovations.

In addition to rebuilding the Sanctuary, local architect John Loomis and his team redesigned the 1,400 square feet of usable space below it as a Youth Center.

“Our youth programs are a dynamic part of the church under Dr. Steve Sweet, and we look for a whole new era of youth ministries to flourish there,” Cohen said. “Our youth does lots of mission work, such as urban outreach and going to the leper colony in Molokai every year to lend a hand in building repairs.”

In efforts to create a warmer, more welcoming feel to the Sanctuary space, the church also hired liturgical design consultant Robert Habiger from Albuquerque, N.M., to help with the redesign.

Under his guidance, Cohen said the historic sanctuary was remodeled to the original intention of the builders who designed it in the Spanish Mission-style.

“We liked the simplicity of that vision, and we have tried to be faithful to that history,” she said.

In addition, they enlarged the Chancel so that the symbols of faith could be seen and appreciated, made improvements to the sound and lighting and brought the building into compliance with accessibility codes. A restroom was also added off the south transept.

Cohen said the church managed to stay open all during the restoration, and everything from the preschool to Hospitality Night continued to operate.

“Much prayer has gone into every stage of this,” Cohen said. “We never could have done this without God.

“We feel blessed to have been given this charge and are very gratified by the outcome.”

Cohen said she is also thankful for the funds raised by the community that helped make the renovations possible.

Services will be at 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Christmas Eve.

For more information, call (949) 494-7555 or visit www.lagunapreschurch.org.