Our History

History of Palisades Presbyterian Church

The history of PPC dates to 1887, when the first services were held in the courtroom of the then-San Diego Courthouse at Broadway and 2nd Street, the intersection that now includes the Westgate Hotel.

On April 10, 1888, 29 charter members petitioned the Presbytery in Santa Ana to form the First United Presbyterian Church in San Diego. With approval, that date is recognized as the founding of what is now Palisades Presbyterian Church.

San Diego saw dramatic change between 1888 and the turn of the century.

PPC moved from worshiping in the Holt House (near what is now Market and 14th Street) to their first church at the corner of 19th and G Street (which is now in the middle of the Highway 94/Interstate 5 interchange). The 20- x 30-foot structure was built with the volunteer labor of their hardy 38 members. Within nine years, the congregation outgrew this humble building and moved to a building on the corner of 22nd and Market Street, where it served parishioners for more than 50 years.

As the city continued to change, the church moved to its current location in Allied Gardens, the neighborhood where most of its members lived. Purchasing 5.7 acres for $15,000 in 1956, the worshiping community held its first services on the Sunday before Christmas in 1956, well before the sanctuary was completed in 1964.

The lovely stained-glass windows that anchor the spire are themselves an example of the mercy of God depicted in them. During World War II, Allied planes accidentally bombed the Dutch factory where the panes were crafted, jeopardizing the business. In a gesture of apology, the U.S. government shipped, free of charge, the stained-glass orders made by Americans. These windows were transported aboard a Navy ship from Holland to Portland, Oregon, then trucked to the church. More than merely beautiful or illustrative, they are practical reminders of the divine virtues of forgiveness and grace.

Since the sanctuary’s completion in 1964, the PPC campus has undergone several renovation projects. In 1988, Palisades celebrated its 100th birthday with construction of its office space and the breezeway connecting the sanctuary with the other church buildings. Members and friends gathered on November 13, 2005, to honor completion of The Point, a long-planned outdoor amphitheater. In 2019, the HGT Family Park was completed and dedicated to beloved pastor Harvey G. Throop, who faithfully served as senior pastor of Palisades for 33 years.

Now, with its storied legacy of service to Christ, and by God’s grace, PPC continues to shine its light in the 21st century as a beacon of Christ’s love.