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Historic Name

First Nazarene Church

Address

295 E 9th Street
Upland, CA 91786

Evaluation

Building
5/8/2007

Construction Date

1906

Current Owner

Pacific Latin Amn Dis CNL Assm of God

Current Owner Address

295 e 9th st
Upland, CA 91786

Description

The one-story, former Nazarene Church is a classic example of the Mission Revival style. Located at the northwest corner of Ninth Street and Third Avenue, the stucco-clad building features es~adanas on the south and east elevations. A cupola capped bell tower occupies the corner. The bell tower is also detailed with a finial and a flat roof projection between the dome of the cupola and the tower below it. Arched openings on both elevations of the tower lead to the main entrance. The east elevation is fenestrated with three large round-headed windows while a series of five sash windows band the south. Secondary entrances are located at the west end of the south elevation and in a one-story wing which projects from the north end of the east elevation. Windows at ground level indicate the existence of a basement. Import molding on the tower arches are all that remain of the original decorative scheme, which included arches over the bent-headed windows and an ornamental frieze on the tower. Even without these features the building makes a strong stylistic statement. It is in good condition.

Organized in December 1904, the First Church of the Nazarene was one of the first half dozen churches to be established in Upland. Its first meeting was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. S.T. Whipple, at 293 North First Avenue (now demolished). Subsequent gatherings took place in a store building on Second Avenue. The church purchased a lot at the northeast corner of Second and ~inth and in 1906 completed construction of the Mission Style building. The next chapter of the Church's history took place in 1924. Upland merchants F.H. Manker, W.W. Horak, and W. S. Avery successfully negotiated the purchase of the church site, which was by then surrounded by the commercial development of Second Avenue. A store building was planned for the lot, with room for the Masonic Lodge to be provided on the upper story.

The church then obtained two lots at the northwest corner of Third and Ninth, one block away, and announced plans to move the structure within four months. In April 1924 the relocation took place. At that time, the north wing was added. Although the Nazarene Church moved out of the building in the 1950s, the edifice still houses a religious congregation, The Assembly of God. Significant as one of the early and well attended churches of Upland, the Nazarene Church is also notable for its architectural design. The Mission Revival began in the 1890s with the rediscovery of the deteriorating Spanish missions in California by people such as Charles Fletcher Lummis who founded the Landmarks Club. Architects were inspired by the buildings to extract elements of the Colonial vocabulary and apply it to new designs. Espadanas were the most recognizable features; mostly plain stucco walls, tile roofs, bell towers, and arches were also employed. Some of the most successful adaptations were, appropriately, for churches, as the Nazarene Church illustrates. It is one of three examples of the style, which had mostly faded from popularity by about 1910, in Upland.