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Religious Affiliation Los Angeles County

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles

Mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.


Religious Affiliation
Adults in the Los Angeles Metro Area

Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, 2014

Religious Beliefs Percentage Approximate Number of Persons (Estimate)*
Christian Faiths 65% 5,113,400
Evangelical Protestant 18% 1,416,000
Mainline Protestant 9% 708,000
Historically Black Protestant 3% 236,000
Catholic 32% 2,517,300
Mormon <1% Less than 78,600
Orthodox Christian 1% 78,600
Jehovah's Witness 1% 78,600
Other Christian (Metaphysical, Etc.) 1% 78,600
Religious Beliefs Percentage Approximate Number of Persons (Estimate)*
Non-Christian Faiths 9% 708,000
Jewish 3% 236,000
Muslim 2% 157,300
Buddhist 2% 157,300
Hindu 1% 78,600
Other World Religions <1% Less than 78,600
Other Faiths (Unitarians, New Age, Native American, Etc.) 1% 78,600
Religious Beliefs Percentage Approximate Number of Persons (Estimate)*
Unaffiliated 25% 1,966,700
Atheist 4% 314,600
Agnostic 4% 314,600
Nothing in particular 16% 1,258,600
Don't know 1% 78,600

* Percentage of U.S. Census 2019 population estimate of persons age 18 and older. These numbers, not from the Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, were calculated by the Los Angeles Almanac.

Source: Pew Research Center - Religious Landscape Study, 2014


Religious Bodies
Congregations & Adherents
Los Angeles County, 2020 & 2010

Also see:
-- Largest Religious Bodies in Los Angeles County
-- Largest Protestant Christian Churches in Los Angeles County.


Adherents are members and their children and others who regularly attend services. Missing data were either not provided, not available, or not present in Los Angeles County that year.

Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Advent Christian Church Evangelical Protestant Adventist 4 211 --- ---
African Methodist Episcopal Church Black Protestant Methodist 32 41,598 34 41,521
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Black Protestant Methodist 9 1,800 11 1,626
American Association of Lutheran Churches Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 --- 1 ---
American Baptist Association, The Evangelical Protestant Baptist 1 276 11 1,307
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
American Baptist Churches in the USA Mainline Protestant Baptist 125 29,404 180 49,515
American Ethical Union Other Humanist 1 --- --- ---
Anglican Church in America Mainline Protestant Anglican/ Episcopal 1 --- --- ---
Anglican Church in North America Evangelical Protestant Anglican/ Episcopal 12 --- 8 ---
Anglican Province of Christ the King Mainline Protestant Anglican/ Episcopal 1 --- --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, The Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 6 3,585 6 3,565
Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene) - East Conference Evangelical Protestant Other Groups 3 145 --- ---
Apostolic Christian Church of America, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Other Groups 1 55 1 78
Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, OR Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 --- 1 43
Apostolic Lutheran Church of America Evangelical Protestant Lutheran --- --- 1 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Catholicosate of Cilicia) Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 7 17,485 7 4,100
Armenian Church of North America (Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin) Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 11 31,900 10 17,050
Armenian Evangelical Churches (Additional) Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 10 --- 6 ---
Assemblies of God Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 297 103,929 269 69,317
Assemblies of God International Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal --- --- 1 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 3 --- 14 422
Association of Free Lutheran Congregations Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 22 --- ---
Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America Evangelical Protestant Baptist 1 --- 4 ---
Bahá'í Bahá'í Other Groups 33 8,810 39 8,061
Baptist Missionary Association of America Evangelical Protestant Baptist 2 --- --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Bible Holiness Church Evangelical Protestant Holiness 2 --- --- ---
Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc. Black Protestant Pentecostal 1 400 --- ---
Biblical Mennonite Alliance Evangelical Protestant Mennonite/ Amish 2 44 --- ---
Brethren Church, The (Ashland, Ohio) Evangelical Protestant Friends/ Brethren 3 --- 2 196
Brethren In Christ Church Evangelical Protestant Friends/ Brethren 1 --- 3 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhist Other Groups --- --- 126 70,397
Buddhism, Theravada Buddhist Other Groups --- --- 29 19,132
Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhist Other Groups --- --- 27 2,168
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 150 1 0
Calvary Chapel Fellowship Churches Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 19 --- 49 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Catholic Church Catholic Western Liturgical (Catholic) 274 3,148,829 274 3,542,994
Chabad Judaism Judaism --- 107 --- --- ---
Charis Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Baptist 8 --- --- ---
Christadelphian Other Christian Other Groups 5 --- --- ---
Christian and Missionary Alliance, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 45 6,071 48 6,729
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Christian Brethren Evangelical Protestant Independent Fundamentalist 18 --- 2 ---
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Mainline Protestant Restorationist 51 7,462 79 8,290
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Restorationist 49 25,722 56 27,565
Christian Congregation in North America Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 2 --- --- ---
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Black Protestant Methodist 14 3,929 14 3,722
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Christian Reformed Church in North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 48 5,880 52 9,892
Church of Christ (Holiness), U.S.A. Evangelical Protestant Holiness 8 --- 20 ---
Church of Christ, Scientist Other Christian Christian Science 17 --- 41 ---
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) Evangelical Protestant Holiness 28 6,490 30 4,941
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 49 2,737 44 4,768
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Church of God (Seventh Day) Evangelical Protestant Adventist 10 --- 10 ---
Church of God General Conference Evangelical Protestant Adventist 1 38 1 37
Church of God in Christ Black Protestant Pentecostal 122 77,607 97 25,920
Church of God of Prophecy Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 20 --- 23 1,174
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Other Christian Latter-day Saints 198 124,938 226 150,569
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Church of Jesus Christ, The (Bickertonites) Other Christian Latter-day Saints 1 --- --- ---
Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. Black Protestant Pentecostal 1 210 3 ---
Church of the Brethren Evangelical Protestant Friends/ Brethren 11 1,148 11 1,216
Church of the Living God (Christian Workers for Fellowship) Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 2 --- --- ---
Church of the Living God: Pillar and Ground of the Truth Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 --- --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 --- 1 70
Church of the Lutheran Confession Evangelical Protestant Lutheran --- --- 1 ---
Church of the Nazarene Evangelical Protestant Holiness 108 23,229 105 21,870
Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Restorationist 92 14,879 99 16,763
Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 --- 1 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Community of Christ Other Christian Latter-day Saints 3 --- 5 820
Conservative Baptist Association of America Evangelical Protestant Baptist 24 --- 52 ---
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 5 4,774 6 4,888
Conservative Judaism Judaism Conservative 20 16,081 23 26,676
Conservative Lutheran Association Evangelical Protestant Lutheran --- --- 1 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Conservative Mennonite Conference Evangelical Protestant Mennonite/ Amish --- --- 1 80
Converge Worldwide/Baptist General Conference Evangelical Protestant Baptist 20 --- 27 6,390
Coptic Orthodox Church Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 15 22,210 12 11,650
ECO: A Covenant Order of Presbyterians Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 15 --- --- ---
Ecumenical Catholic Communion Catholic Western Liturgical (Catholic) 4 640 --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Episcopal Church Mainline Protestant Anglican/ Episcopal 72 28,220 83 38,108
Eritrean Orthodox Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 1,890 1 650
Ethiopian Orthodox Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 8 3,780 3 ---
Evangelical Covenant Church, The Evangelical Protestant Methodist 32 4,913 30 7,999
Evangelical Free Church of America, The Evangelical Protestant Methodist 42 --- 33 7,305
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Evangelical Friends Church International Evangelical Protestant Friends/ Brethren 12 1,265 16 1,644
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mainline Protestant Lutheran 95 14,447 109 23,713
Evangelical Lutheran Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 44 1 49
Evangelical Methodist Church Evangelical Protestant Methodist 1 --- 2 ---
Evangelical Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed --- --- 1 34
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Every Nation Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 4 --- --- ---
Foursquare Gospel, International Church of the Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 184 74,822 234 54,646
Free Methodist Church of North America Evangelical Protestant Holiness 31 4,988 31 3,972
Friends General Conference Mainline Protestant Friends/ Brethren 5 365 --- ---
Friends United Meeting Mainline Protestant Friends/ Brethren 1 400 1 417
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Black Protestant Baptist 47 9,870 23 ---
Full Gospel Christian Assemblies International Black Protestant Other Groups 7 2,090 --- ---
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist 16 --- 18 ---
General Church of the New Jerusalem Other Christian Spiritualist 1 --- --- ---
Georgian Orthodox Parishes in the United States Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 65 1 150
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Grace Brethren Churches, Fellowship of Mainline Protestant Friends/ Brethren --- --- 13 ---
Grace Communion International Evangelical Protestant Adventist 6 --- --- ---
Grace Gospel Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Independent Fundamentalist 1 --- 1 ---
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 8 7,243 8 9,155
Hindu Yoga and Meditation Hindu Other Groups 49 15,891 --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Hindu, Indian American Hindu Temple Assoc. Hindu Other Groups --- --- 16 9,759
Hindu, Post Renaissance Hindu Other Groups --- --- 34 946
Hindu, Renaissance Hindu Other Groups --- --- 15 572
Hindu, Traditional Temples Hindu Other Groups 17 26,220 13 8,336
Holiness Church Of God, Inc., The Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 --- --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Holy Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 100 1 120
Hungarian Reformed Churches (Additional) Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed --- --- 1 ---
Independent Fundamental Churches of America Evangelical Protestant Independent Fundamentalist --- --- 13 ---
Independent Judaism Judaism --- 6 850 --- ---
Independent Yearly Meetings of Friends Mainline Protestant Friends/ Brethren --- --- 5 242
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
International Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Baptist 2 6,322 2 6,169
International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church Evangelical Protestant Anglican/ Episcopal 1 --- --- ---
International Council of Community Churches Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed --- --- 5 ---
International Pentecostal Holiness Church Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal --- --- 20 4,684
Jehovah's Witnesses Other Christian Adventist 461 116,034 133 9,600**
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Knanaya Churches in the USA Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 70 --- ---
Korean American Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed --- --- 48 ---
Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed --- --- 39 ---
Korean Presbyterian Church in America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed --- --- 70 ---
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 86 10,945 90 18,317
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 12 2,682 10 4,322
Macedonian Orthodox Church: American Diocese Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 150 1 300
Mahayana Buddhist Buddhist Other Groups 87 56,760 --- ---
Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 216 1 216
Malankara Mar Thoma Church Indian Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 141 --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 665 3 420
Mennonite Church USA Evangelical Protestant Mennonite/ Amish 13 1,292 24 2,116
Metropolitan Community Churches, Universal Fellowship of Mainline Protestant Other Groups 3 283 4 564
Missionary Church, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 18 1,991 18 4,611
Moravian Church in America--Northern Province Mainline Protestant Methodist --- --- 1 216
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Muslim Estimate Islam Other Groups 74 142,661 59 69,080
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 4 471 8 2,434
National Association of Free Will Baptists Evangelical Protestant Baptist 7 126 5 282
National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 9 8,902 16 10,106
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 45 20,356 52 23,659
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
National Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 164 55,116 25 3,322
National Primitive Baptist Convention, USA Evangelical Protestant Baptist 4 1,060 --- ---
National Spiritualist Association of Churches Other Christian Spiritualist 1 --- 1 ---
Nazarene Christian Congregation (Side A or B) Evangelical Protestant Other Groups 1 13 --- ---
Netherlands Reformed Congregations Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 --- --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
New Apostolic Church of North America, National Organization of the Other Other Groups 3 --- 5 ---
Non-denominational Evangelical Protestant Other Groups 531 378,500 720 345,848
North American Baptist Conference Evangelical Protestant Baptist 1 --- 3 104
Open Bible Standard Churches, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 11 370 510
Orthodox Church in America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 8 1,430 8 1,101
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Orthodox Judaism Judaism --- 37 44,400 150 44,400
Orthodox Presbyterian Church, The Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 7 --- 4 632
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 250 --- ---
Pentecostal Church of God Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 8 --- 14 3,278
Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Church Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal --- --- 1 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal --- --- 2 ---
Pillar of Fire Evangelical Protestant Holiness 1 --- 1 50
Polish National Catholic Church Catholic Western Liturgical (Catholic) 1 --- 1 ---
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 118 21,357 150 38,476
Presbyterian Church in America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 32 966 35 1,027
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 7 2,096 12 2,462
Reconstructionist Judaism Judaism --- 2 2,867 3 3,761
Reform Judaism Judaism --- 22 25,502 26 33,631
Reformed Baptist Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist --- --- 5 ---
Reformed Church in America Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 25 5,867 13 6,293
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Reformed Church in the United States Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 2 54 1 44
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 84 1 63
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in Americas Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 300 2 250
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 1,400 3 4,100
Salvation Army Evangelical Protestant Holiness 25 5,174 23 7,529
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Serbian Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 3 3,550 3 5,240
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, USA and Canada Evangelical Protestant Baptist 2 50 3 67
Seventh-day Adventist Church Evangelical Protestant Adventist 136 40,381 140 44,377
Sikh Sikh Other Groups 8 --- 14 ---
Southern Baptist Convention Evangelical Protestant Baptist 588 118,072 517 100,329
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Sovereign Grace Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist 1 --- --- ---
Swedenborgian Church Other Christian Spiritualist 2 47 1 ---
Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 4 2,585 2 4,800
Tao Taoist Other Groups 2 --- 5 ---
The Church of God Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 3 --- --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
The Local Churches Evangelical Protestant Other Groups 24 --- --- ---
Theravada Buddhist Buddhist Other Groups 33 19,552 --- ---
U.S. Mennonite Brethren Evangelical Protestant Mennonite/ Amish 10 1,006 11 1,088
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 320 2 400
Unaffiliated Conservative Mennonite Evangelical Protestant Mennonite/ Amish 1 18 --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Unification Church Other Other Groups 1 --- --- ---
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Judaism --- 2 --- 2 ---
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Other Liberal 13 1,855 14 2,869
United Church of Christ Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 59 8,487 54 10,861
United Church of God Evangelical Protestant Adventist 1 --- --- ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
United Holy Church of America, Inc. Black Protestant Pentecostal 2 98 3 ---
United House of Prayer Black Protestant Pentecostal 1 172 --- ---
United Methodist Church, The Mainline Protestant Anglican/ Episcopal 147 37,515 154 49,927
United Pentecostal Church International Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 34 --- 33 ---
United Reformed Churches in North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 2 188 2 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Unity Churches, Association of Other Other Groups 11 --- 14 ---
Vajarayana Buddhist Buddhist Other Groups 18 21,290 --- ---
Vedanta Society Hindu Other Groups 2 --- --- ---
Vicariate for the Palestinian/Jordanian Orthodox Christian Communities Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) --- --- 1 250
Vineyard USA Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 17 5,104 17 10,406
Religious Body Tradition Family 2020 2010
Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Wesleyan Church, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 22 3,810 29 4,190
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 7 1,024 8 1,173
Zoroastrian Zorastrian Other Groups --- --- 2 417

*Source: The Association of Religion Data Archives.


Los Angeles County is home to the largest concentrations in any U.S. county of a number of different religious bodies. Among these are Catholics, Latter-Day-Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Salvation Army, Reform Judaism, Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajarayana Buddhists, Assembies of God, Foursquare Gospel, Church of God in Christ, Church of the Nazarene, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and Baha'i Faith.


The First Congregational Church, founded in 1867 and currently located at 540 South Commonwealth Avenue in Los Angeles, is the oldest continually operating Protestant church in Los Angeles County. Since its founding in the home of Amanda Scott in 1867, the church has regularly met in five different buildings. The current Gothic edifice was completed in 1932. Among its past ministers was Lloyd C. Douglas, author of The Robe.


The First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, located on South Harvard Boulevard, is the oldest African American church in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1872 in the home of Biddy Mason, a former slave who had become a successful Downtown Los Angeles landowner.


The first Protestant church established in Los Angeles was founded by William Money in 1841. He was run out of town by the Catholic Church. The first Methodist sermon in Los Angeles was preached by Reverend James Brier in 1850. His congregation consisted of his family and L.A.'s mayor at that time.