Presidio Terrace in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 18, 2009
1. St. John's Presbyterian Church Marker
City and County of San Francisco (Marker Number 83, 410.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites series list.
Location. 37° 47.204′ N, 122° 27.567′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Presidio Terrace. Marker is at the intersection of Arguello Boulevard and Lake Street, on the left when traveling north on Arguello Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94118, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The San Francisco Columbarium (approx. 0.4 miles away); Juan Bautista de Anza (approx. 0.6 miles away); San Francisco's First People (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Anza Expedition Camped Here (approx. 0.6 miles away); Bachelor Officers' Quarters: Pershing Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Post Chapel (approx. ¾ mile away); At Home in the Nineteenth Century Army (approx. ¾ mile away); Lover’s Lane (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.
More about this marker. The marker is to the right
this page online
Regarding St. John’s Presbyterian Church. St. John’s Presbyterian Church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This church is also one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).
The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:
Organized in 1870, St. John's occupied two houses of worship before constructing the present sanctuary on Lake Street at the turn of the 20th century. Many of its furnishings, including the pews, the pulpit, the inscribed transept arch, the Rose window, and the Johnson pipe organ, followed the congregation to each successive building. The Shingle-style church, with its imposing, square steeple tower, its steeply pitched gabled roof, and its ornamental hexagonal South tower, was completed in 1906. The first services were held on Easter Sunday. Three days later, the church was damaged by the earthquake of April 18, 1906, and it would be another year before the sanctuary was ready for regular use. It was formally dedicated on April 28, 1907.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 18, 2009
2. St. John's Presbyterian Church Marker
St. John's Presbyterian Church is on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. John's Presbyterian was originally located at on Post Street, near Mason. In 1888, the congregation moved to its second building, at California Street and Octavia.
Click for more information.
St. John's Presbyterian was originally located at on Post Street, near Mason. In 1888, the congregation moved to its second building, at California Street and Octavia.
Click for more information.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 18, 2009
3. Cornerstone - Laid 1905
In 1902 the congregation decided to build a new church in the western part of the city. Designed by the firm of Dodge and Dolliver, ground was broken in 1905, and the first services in the new building were held April 15, 1906.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 18, 2009
4. St. John's Presbyterian Church - Entrance with markers to the left and right of the entrance
The Great Earthquake struck on April, 18, 1906. The heavily damaged church, repaired and reopened, and was rededicated on April 28, 1907.
April 18, 2009
5. St. John's Presbyterian Church from the Northeast
St. John's Presbyterian has appeared in at least 3 movies, So I Married an Axe Murderer, Little City, and Zodiac.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,166 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on August 14, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 29, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 5. submitted on April 29, 2009. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
