Calvary Church of Santa Ana

Calvary Church of Santa Ana
Map
33°45′15″N 117°50′09″W / 33.754067°N 117.835863°W / 33.754067; -117.835863
LocationSanta Ana, California
CountryUnited States
DenominationIndependent
Membership4500
WebsiteOfficial Website
History
Founded25 October 1931 (1931-10-25)
Founder(s)Charles E. Fuller
Architecture
Construction cost$9.7 million
Specifications
Floor area7,500 square feet (700 m2)
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Eric Wakeling

Calvary Church of Santa Ana, located in Santa Ana, California, was founded on October 25, 1931.[1][2] Overall, the church has had seven senior pastors. Eric Wakeling has been serving as the senior pastor since February, 2018.[3]

History

In 1931, Rev. Charles E. Fuller was the pastor at Calvary Church of Placentia. At the time of its founding, the church had 150 members.[1] According to Pastor Michael Samsvick, who became pastor in 1961, Calvary was founded by Christians who wanted a church that would "stand for and teach the whole Bible as the Word of God.[4]

The Church met in rented space at the Ebell Club in Downtown Santa Ana until moving into a renovated house in October 1942.[5] Its first building on Tustin Avenue was dedicated in 1962.[4] In 1967 the Church dedicated a new, 850-seat sanctuary at a cost of $350,000.[4] In 1981 the Church had 1,000 members,[6] by 1992 it had grown to 4,500 members under the leadership of pastor David Hocking, who left the church under a cloud of scandal.[7]

Calvary dedicated a new 75,000-square-foot building costing $9.7 million in November 1992, the "largest worship center" in Orange County.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Smith, Wilbur M. (2014). A Voice for God: The Life of Charles E. Fuller. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 98. ISBN 9781625645760.
  2. ^ Yamanaka, Cindy (31 October 2011). "Calvary Church marks 8 decades of service". Orange County Register. ProQuest 901149221.
  3. ^ "Our Leadership". CalvaryLife.org. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Sanctuary to Be Dedicated in Santa Ana". Los Angeles Times. 14 September 1967. ProQuest 155874842.
  5. ^ "History | Calvary Church". calvarylife.org. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  6. ^ a b Christensen, Kim (8 October 1992). "Popular pastor quits radio after allegations Head of Santa Ana's Calvary Church denies any improper behavior". Orange County Register. ProQuest 272598814.
  7. ^ Billiter, Bill (9 October 1992). "Santa Ana's Rev. Hocking Quits Pulpit After Affair Scandal: Renowned minister acknowledges 'sexual sin' with married woman in congregation of his Calvary Church". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 281701082.