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Building History

Architect Julia Morgan (1872-1957) lived in the East Bay, and was well-known in the community by 1917. She designed a number of churches in the area, most proximate being Saint John's Presbyterian Church at 2640 College Avenue, completed by 1910. Her pleasing design for Saint John's may have been a key factor in her getting this commission seven years later. A founding member of the congregation, Duncan C. MacMillan, who erected the Hanna Memorial Church #1 in Downtown Oakland, also served as the building contractor for the second church.

The church debt was paid off within about ten years. In the years that followed, the congregation erected other buildings on their property. The College Avenue Presbyterian Church's own website listed these later structures: "The congregation became self-supporting by April 1, 1927. Begun as a mission church it would take 36 years to become a self-sustaining church. During that time the Board of Church Extension and Home Missions spent $23,307, not including the amount that they would later put into the Sunday School addition (1938) and the gym (1943). It is estimated that approximately $50,000 would never be paid back to the denomination." (See College Avenue Presbyterian Church.org, "Our Story," accessed 03/21/2023.)

Building Notes

The church was originally called the second "Hanna Memorial Church," named for its first pastor, Charles Hanna. The first Hanna Memorial Church was located at 18th and Castro Streets in Oakland.

Alteration

The exterior of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church was painted sometime between 2019 and 2021. The soffit of the eaves was notably painted red (from green) at this time.

PCAD id: 24615