The Oceanside Sanctuary, a historic church located on Freeman Street in Oceanside, California, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a weekend of community festivities on November 22-23, 2025. Originally founded on November 21, 1875, as “The Christian Church at San Luis Rey,” the congregation has grown from a small family church in a one-room schoolhouse to one of the oldest continuously active Protestant churches in San Diego County.
The anniversary celebration will kick off with a carnival on November 22, featuring games, a chili cook-off, live music, and a food drive to support the Sanctuary Pantry. This event will also include an “Amazing Race” through historic Oceanside locations, allowing participants to engage with the community’s rich history. The following day, the church will host a sesquicentennial worship service from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., featuring guest speaker Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, vice president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), along with music and reflections on the church’s legacy.
Over the years, the Oceanside Sanctuary has undergone significant transformations, moving into four different buildings and adapting its name while remaining committed to its mission. “We only exist because of the good work done by generations of people who came before us,” stated Rev. Jason Coker, co-lead pastor at Oceanside Sanctuary.
The church’s history is marked by several significant milestones. In 1932, Grace MacDonald became the church’s first woman pastor and initiated a weekly soup kitchen during the Great Depression to support those in need. In the late 1960s, Pastor Charles Elswick took a stand against the Vietnam War, participating in protests alongside activist Angela Davis.
In 2002, church member Betty Young established a computer lab and after-school homework club that provided educational support to hundreds of local students. From 2008 to 2020, as the homeless population in downtown Oceanside grew, the church offered weekly dinners and essential supplies to those in need. In 2016, the church launched a food pantry in collaboration with Feeding San Diego, serving over 400 individuals each month facing food insecurity.
More recently, in 2021, the church collaborated with local congregations to advocate for an enforceable de-escalation policy at the Oceanside Police Department. In 2023, the church joined forces with various community organizations to provide shelter and assistance to over 100 asylum seekers arriving daily at the Oceanside Transit Center.
The community celebration will take place at the church campus located at 204 S. Freeman St., Oceanside. For more information about the events and the church’s programs, visit oceansidesanctuary.org.
