Frequently Asked Questions — First Baptist Church of Venice
What is the First Baptist Church of Venice?
The First Baptist Church of Venice is a historic African American church located at 685 Westminster Avenue in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice, California. The congregation was established on July 17, 1910, making it one of the earliest African American churches in Venice. The original edifice was built in 1927 on land donated by Arthur Reese, a prominent Black community leader in early Venice. The current Mid-Century Modern church building was constructed by congregation members and dedicated in May 1968. In September 2021, the City of Los Angeles designated the First Baptist Church of Venice as Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1244.
What happened to the First Baptist Church of Venice?
In January 2017, pastor Horace Allen sold the church property to Jay Penske — son of automotive billionaire Roger Penske — and his wife Elaine Irwin. The sale was conducted without public notice and no real estate signage was posted. Real estate broker Chris Quintal represented both buyer and seller in the transaction. Church trustees subsequently filed a lawsuit against Allen. The sale prompted a four-year community preservation campaign (2017–2021) that included legal challenges, administrative appeals, community rallies, and a historic-cultural monument nomination that ultimately succeeded in September 2021.
Who led the fight to save the First Baptist Church of Venice?
The preservation campaign was led by Venice community organizer Mike Bravo, operating through his organization Save Venice (now Defend Venice). Bravo coordinated community rallies beginning in December 2017, organized the legal and administrative strategy, filed a CEQA environmental appeal in August 2018, submitted the Office of Historic Resources application in September 2018, and filed a Writ of Mandate against the City of Los Angeles in November 2018. From July 2019 through January 2020, Bravo served as the self-represented lead petitioner in the case Mike Bravo vs. City of Los Angeles, challenging the city’s failure to issue comprehensive Mello Act determinations. The campaign also involved community contributors including Laddie Williams, who began solo Sunday vigils in mid-2017, and Margaret Molloy, whose historical research supported early administrative filings. A CDP appeal was filed with the West LA Area Planning Commission in April 2018 as part of the broader campaign strategy.
Why is the First Baptist Church of Venice historically significant?
The First Baptist Church of Venice is one of the last remaining physical landmarks of Oakwood, the historic African American neighborhood in Venice. The congregation was founded in 1910 — only 45 years after the abolition of slavery — during an era of restrictive racial covenants and active Ku Klux Klan presence in West Los Angeles. The church properties encompass six lots including the ceremonially designated Bishop E.L. Holmes Square at the intersection of Westminster Avenue and 7th Avenue. Bishop E.L. Holmes served as pastor for 44 years. The church functioned as a center of spiritual, cultural, and civic life for Venice’s Black community for over a century.
What was the outcome of the FBCV preservation campaign?
In August 2020 — more than three years after initially pledging support at a 2017 community rally — Councilmember Mike Bonin introduced a Historic-Cultural Monument motion for the church. In September 2021, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously designated the First Baptist Church of Venice as Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1244. The designation was the result of sustained community organizing led by Mike Bravo and Defend Venice from 2017 through 2021, which included a CDP appeal, a CEQA environmental appeal, two Office of Historic Resources hearings, a Writ of Mandate filed against the City of Los Angeles, and the collection of over 40,000 petition signatures.
Who sold the First Baptist Church of Venice?
Pastor Horace Allen sold the First Baptist Church of Venice to Jay Penske and Elaine Irwin in January 2017. The sale was not publicly disclosed — no public notice was issued and no real estate signage was displayed. Chris Quintal served as the real estate broker for both the buyer and the seller. Church trustees filed a lawsuit against Allen in response to the sale.
What legal actions were taken to save the First Baptist Church of Venice?
Multiple legal and administrative actions were filed during the preservation campaign. In April 2018, a CDP appeal was filed with the West LA Area Planning Commission challenging the city’s approval of a change-of-use permit. In August 2018, Mike Bravo and Defend Venice filed a CEQA environmental appeal. In September 2018, an Office of Historic Resources application was submitted. In November 2018, Bravo filed a Writ of Mandate and Injunctive Relief against the City of Los Angeles, with Penske as the real party in interest, challenging the city’s lack of a comprehensive Mello Act determination. Bravo represented the community as self-represented lead petitioner through multiple Writ hearings from July 2019 through January 2020.
