San Mateo County’s first protestant house of worship was established in Redwood City in 1862.
Affectionately named “the little church on the island,” it was on Diller’s Island, which made access difficult as it was largely surrounded by Redwood Creek. Getting there became easier once a bridge was built in 1866. Its location was nearby the corner of today’s Jefferson and Broadway.
Originally facing Webster Street (renamed Middlefield Road) the building was remodeled in 1872 to face East Jefferson.
In the early 1890s a new larger church was constructed, where worship continued for 30 more years. This included being off premises for over six months due to damage caused by the ’06 earthquake.
Church Rev. Dr. Robert Currie was heavily involved in local community affairs, which included being a driving force in establishing the Easter Cross that continues to overlook Redwood City atop the local hills.
Also noteworthy is church member William Doxsee coined the phrase “Climate Best By Government Test,” which has been a landmark sign since the 1920s.
The church relocated to a spot near Euclid and McGarvey in 1954, where it became known as “the church of the rock.”
Entering the 21st century, financial challenges beset the church. As a result, the building was sold in 2007. However, the congregation continued to meet in a lease arrangement.
In 2020, a difficult decision was made to close down the physical location but continues to meet every Sunday at 5 p.m. on Zoom and Wednesday mornings, according to a church council member. The congregation is led by Rev. Warren Dale.
Everything else is just history
Some of the photos used in this blog are courtesy of the Local History Room, Redwood City's best-kept secret. The Local History Collection covers all aspects of Redwood City's development, from the 1850s to the present day, with particular emphasis on businesses, public schools, civic organizations, city agencies, and early family histories. The Local History Room is not affiliated with the Redwood City Public Library, but it is inside it.
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Editor's Note: A previous version of this story did not state that the church continues to meet every Sunday via Zoom. The church is known as First Church and is the First Congregational Church of Redwood City UCC.
