Roots in La Jolla — 1880s
African Americans first came to La Jolla in the 1880s, drawn by domestic service work — as cooks, housekeepers, and laundry workers — for the wealthy resort community. Black-owned businesses gradually followed: laundromats, hair salons, and cottages along the coastline. These early residents laid the foundation for a lasting community presence that endures to this day.[1]
Founded 1921 — La Jolla Union Mission
With no church of their own, Black residents had been attending a white Presbyterian church in La Jolla, where they felt unwelcome. In 1921, the congregation was established as the La Jolla Union Mission — believed to be the first African American church in San Diego. Members gathered in a small, two-room house near the current site. The church was a lifeline for domestic workers and their families, offering not just worship but community, dignity, and belonging.
1943
The congregation formally joins the African Methodist Episcopal denomination and adopts the name Prince Chapel by the Sea. This marks the official founding as an AME church.
1948
A new church building is constructed. During construction, services are held at the La Jolla Recreation Center, with the congregation's faith holding the community together.
1985
First major remodel of the church building, expanding the congregation's capacity for worship and service.
2008
A second major remodel modernizes the building while honoring the church's historic character.
2018
Rev. Denise Jackson delivers her first sermon at Prince Chapel in October, beginning a new chapter of leadership rooted in theological education and community advocacy.[2]
Today
Prince Chapel by the Sea remains the oldest African American institution still operating in La Jolla — over 100 years of unbroken faith, service, and presence in the community.
A Presence That Endured
La Jolla has been documented as a historically exclusionary community — one where Black residents faced discrimination and were unwelcome after dark.[3] Against that backdrop, Prince Chapel's century-long presence is a testament to the resilience and determination of its congregation. The church has stood not just as a house of worship, but as a symbol of belonging in a community that long denied it.
The AME Heritage
The African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded on April 9, 1816, in Philadelphia by Richard Allen, a formerly enslaved man who became the first AME bishop. The denomination was born in direct response to racial segregation in the Methodist Episcopal Church — Allen and other Black worshippers had been physically removed from pews during services. The AME Church became the first independent Black Protestant denomination in the United States, and today Prince Chapel carries forward more than 200 years of that tradition.[4]
Community & Outreach
Prince Chapel has always been more than a place of Sunday worship. Over the decades, the congregation has awarded scholarships to youth, partnered with a local women's shelter, conducted homeless outreach, and produced student body presidents, athletes, and scholars at La Jolla schools.[5] The annual Pillar of Light Festival — a Black History Month kickoff with music, guest speakers, and community awards — celebrates the people and spirit that have kept this church alive. The church teaches its youth "to have a voice and to use it in a positive, effective and responsible manner."[5]
Notable Figures
Lorenza Pace & Bettye Brown
Church members and co-authors of La Jolla California Black Pioneers and Pioneers Descendants 1880–1974, a documented record of African American heritage in La Jolla.[6]
Oscar Knight III
Honored posthumously with the 2nd Annual Pillar of Light Award for his contributions to the community.[5]
Rev. Denise Jackson
Current pastor, ordained Itinerate Deacon in the AME Church, theologian, and author of 60 Ways to Save Your Home From Foreclosure. Delivered her first sermon at Prince Chapel in October 2018.[2]