Historic Old First Church, home of California's oldest Protestant congregation, is located at the corner of Sacramento and Van Ness. Couples of any faith or no particular faith are invited to be married here.*
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The sanctuary is known for its excellent acoustics, as audiences and performers at Old First Concerts can attest. It seats around 450 people. The main floor of the sanctuary is handicapped-accessible by way of an elevator that opens onto the Sacramento Street sidewalk. |
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The charming chapel at one side was created to be an intimate setting for small weddings.
Old First's historic pipe organ dates from 1910, with a major refurbishment completed in the mid-1990's. |
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Your guests will enter and leave the church through the distinctive exonarthex under a stunning decorative ceiling painted in jewel tones and accented with gold and silver leaf.
The design was based on the deep blue starry sky often seen in early Christian house-churches.
The descending dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit, and the sacrament of Communion is represented by grape and wheat motifs. |
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The sanctuary has been recently repainted and redecorated, with new carpeting and flooring, refinished pews and woodwork. The hanging light fixtures have been restored to their original 1915 appearance. |
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The vivid stained glass windows date from the 1940's and 50's. The enormous Rose Window is the focal point of the sanctuary and fills the back wall of the balcony. |
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