Trinity Presbyterian Church is an open and inclusive church located on the east side of Santa Cruz. The church is Christ-centered in its approach and is focused on missionary programs. Music is a big part of the Trinity Church's services, including a full choir accompanied by organ or a piano.
First Congregational Church was first established in Santa Cruz in 1857. In the 1950s, the church moved to its current location on High Street.
The church offers two services on Sundays, both at 10:30am. One is a traditional choir service, the other a jazz and gospel service.
First Congregational Church is inclusive and invites anyone to attend. Its policy on inclusiveness states, "We welcome all who seek to walk with God as we have come to recognize in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, denying no one full participation in the life of this church on the basis of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other particular element of his or her total humanity."
The church offers a limited number of parking spaces to UC Santa Cruz students. There is space for the community to rent out for various events.
Holy Cross Catholic Church was founded as one of the original 21 missions created by the Spanish across California. The church offers a wide variety of outreach programs. The Parish Hall is available for rent to community groups. Holy Cross School, run by the parish, offers a Catholic education for students in preschool through eighth grade.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church first offered its services in 1947. The Catholic ministry here runs several outreach programs aimed at helping those who are less fortunate in the community. Outreach programs include senior lunches, senior aerobics and a variety of services to help low-income and homeless find shelter and food.
Santa Cruz Community Church calls itself "unlike any other church you may have known." Located on the east side of Santa Cruz near Highway 1, the church shares its property with the Santa Cruz Parent Education Nursery School. The church welcomes people from all walks of life and embraces the diversity of its religious community. The church is led by Pastor Allen Bujno.
The High Street Community Church is located on the west side of Santa Cruz near the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus. It offers ministries to children, adults and the community. Outreach is encouraged at High Street Community Church, and members regularly take part in activities that benefit local nonprofit agencies including St. Francis Soup Kitchen and the Pregnancy Resource Center. The church also offers Bible study classes for both men and women.
Pastor Dennis Koffer leads this independent Baptist church located in the Santa Cruz area. The church's mission is to offer a church that cures the soul. It offers online video and audio sermons for those who like the privacy of their home or office.
Harbor Light Church is located on 17th Avenue just east of the Staples store. The church is welcoming of all denominations. Behind the church is a field and parking lot that fills with families for church events. A large barbecue area is also behind the church.
For more than 25 years, the St. Francis Soup Kitchen has served meals to the homeless and hungry of Santa Cruz. The kitchen is located off River Street near the Old Sash Mill and feeds 190 people on a daily basis. The premises also offer showers, which are open two hours a day. An outdoor patio offers a bike parking area. A row of benches lines one wall of the patio.
The building where Christian Fellowship Center is located, a large white church on Hammond Avenue, has seen many different iterations during the past 50 plus years. For the past couple of years it has been the home of Christian Fellowship Center. The center has a flowering garden of prayer near the front entrance. And the parking lot doubles as half of a basketball court, something local neighborhood kids take advantage of when the church is not holding services. A colorful, plastic play structure also sits in the parking lot.
Visit Freedom House Church in person or online. Worship times are Sunday 10:30am and Wednesday 7pm. This church is led by pastors Robert and Wendy Burbatt.
St. Stephens is a welcoming church with a mission to "nurture people growing in faith, serve others with acceptance and love, invite people to share the joy of the spirit. It shares space with a pre-school.
The Shrine of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer is located on picturesque West Cliff Drive, not far from the Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk. The grounds include a Mission-style garden and religious statuary. The church was dedicated in 1993 and remodeled in recent years. It holds regular Masses, features an art exhibit about St. Joseph's life and runs a bookstore.
