HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH
Ocean View Community Church began as a Sunday School of four(4) persons in a store on Plymouth Ave in 1890. September 6, 1894 ,the church Occhanged its name to " The Ocean View Congregational Church of San Francisco". The 1st church building at 144-146 Broad Street was deeded to the church for one dollar, in April of 1895 by Deacon S.Smith of the First Congregational Church of San Francisco. During the pastorate of Rev. Eugene Still in 1942-1945 the idea of relocating was born.
Six lots were purchased at the present location of 400 Randolph Street. With the growth of this area, the church became too small and the church deceided to relocate in order to better serve the community. Plans were made to build a larger church. Many fundraising activities were held to raise money and a large portion of the labor was done by volunteer help.
The present church building was dedicated August 5, 1951, during the morning worship service; Rev. Karl E. Olson was the presiding minister. The morning services on August 5, 1951, began at 10:30 a.m. with the formal closing of the church located at 146 Broad Street, San Francisco. The members marched in a pilgrimage to the new church, which is our present church Pilgrim Community Church, United Church of Christ. Pilgrim Community Church established a cooperative history many years ago when we shared our facilities with various community organizations. These organizations included the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Red Cross, NAACP, Urban League, and Community Improvement Groups along with many social organizations and groups. Pilgrim also shared the sanctuary with the Samoan Church Family while they were building their own church.
Pilgrim has always been active in the community. The Pilgrim Church Family sought to meet the needs of our community and tried to fulfill one of its dreams to help others. There was a need for a community center so Pilgrim shared their land and donated the proceeds from the sale of their parsonage to help finance the first phase of the community center which is located next door. The ground breaking of the OMI-Pilgrim Community Center was held on March 9, 1995. The Honorable State Assemblyman Willie Brown Jr., then Speaker of the California Assembly, dedicated the new center along with many State and City officials, including State Senator Quentin Kopp and Supervisors Doris Ward and Willie B. Kennedy.
Many God-fearing men have led this congregation over the years. Some of these men called by God to be under shepherds of His flock were: Pastor Eugene Stills, Pastor Karl E. Olson, Pastor Giles, Pastor Bernard Travis and Pastor Roland A. Tisdale. Pilgrim Community Church again found itself in need of a new pastor and God, in His own appointed time, sent a shepherd. In 1997, the anointed man of God Rev. Dr. Harold L. Pierre, who prefers to be called God’s Servant, was placed as pastor and under his leadership and collaboration with the Pilgrim Family continue to work on our spiritual temple and put God First in our lives, to be on one accord and to ever be mindful of the 3 T’s ... “On Time, On Task and On Target.”
By the grace of God, the Pilgrim Community Church Family has been blessed with 121 years of dedicated service to God’s people and will joyfully celebrates it’s the event every 4th Sunday in October. Each year is another opportunity to win souls for Christ whereby our hearts are glad!
We are recipients of God’s goodness, whereby we can testify that it is not the size of the church but the greatness of God. For we now that all things work together for the good of those who are called according to God’s purpose.
Six lots were purchased at the present location of 400 Randolph Street. With the growth of this area, the church became too small and the church deceided to relocate in order to better serve the community. Plans were made to build a larger church. Many fundraising activities were held to raise money and a large portion of the labor was done by volunteer help.
The present church building was dedicated August 5, 1951, during the morning worship service; Rev. Karl E. Olson was the presiding minister. The morning services on August 5, 1951, began at 10:30 a.m. with the formal closing of the church located at 146 Broad Street, San Francisco. The members marched in a pilgrimage to the new church, which is our present church Pilgrim Community Church, United Church of Christ. Pilgrim Community Church established a cooperative history many years ago when we shared our facilities with various community organizations. These organizations included the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Red Cross, NAACP, Urban League, and Community Improvement Groups along with many social organizations and groups. Pilgrim also shared the sanctuary with the Samoan Church Family while they were building their own church.
Pilgrim has always been active in the community. The Pilgrim Church Family sought to meet the needs of our community and tried to fulfill one of its dreams to help others. There was a need for a community center so Pilgrim shared their land and donated the proceeds from the sale of their parsonage to help finance the first phase of the community center which is located next door. The ground breaking of the OMI-Pilgrim Community Center was held on March 9, 1995. The Honorable State Assemblyman Willie Brown Jr., then Speaker of the California Assembly, dedicated the new center along with many State and City officials, including State Senator Quentin Kopp and Supervisors Doris Ward and Willie B. Kennedy.
Many God-fearing men have led this congregation over the years. Some of these men called by God to be under shepherds of His flock were: Pastor Eugene Stills, Pastor Karl E. Olson, Pastor Giles, Pastor Bernard Travis and Pastor Roland A. Tisdale. Pilgrim Community Church again found itself in need of a new pastor and God, in His own appointed time, sent a shepherd. In 1997, the anointed man of God Rev. Dr. Harold L. Pierre, who prefers to be called God’s Servant, was placed as pastor and under his leadership and collaboration with the Pilgrim Family continue to work on our spiritual temple and put God First in our lives, to be on one accord and to ever be mindful of the 3 T’s ... “On Time, On Task and On Target.”
By the grace of God, the Pilgrim Community Church Family has been blessed with 121 years of dedicated service to God’s people and will joyfully celebrates it’s the event every 4th Sunday in October. Each year is another opportunity to win souls for Christ whereby our hearts are glad!
We are recipients of God’s goodness, whereby we can testify that it is not the size of the church but the greatness of God. For we now that all things work together for the good of those who are called according to God’s purpose.