Our Church History

Our Church grew out of meetings held in 1886 and 1887. The meetings were conducted by R.D. Owen, a minister committed to training young men for ministry, and two of his proteges, J.G. Smith and Robert Hare (father of Eric B. Hare). A camp meeting in the fall of 1887 followed, at which nine of the believers were baptized. A church of seven was organized on July 21, 1888.

For several years these precious people held meetings in their homes. In 1896, plans were made for a permanent church home on the corner of Short and Allen Streets. With much effort and prayer, the Arroyo Grande Seventh-Day Adventist Church was dedicated on March 27, 1898. In 1912, a church school was opened using the church facilities. In 1937, church members John and Alfreda Beckett donated about seven acres on the hill above Arroyo Grande for a new school, which opened its doors in 1938.

On September 14, 1952 it was voted to build a new church building on the property above our school, Valley View Adventist Academy. The first service was held in it on March 26, 1955. In 1974, the multipurpose building was added to the church plant. The Valley View Children's Center was started in 1984 at the school, moving the next year to its current site in the multipurpose building of the church. In 1987, a major renovation beautified the church as we see it today.

Our church would not exist if not for so many faithful ones who have gone before, strengthened, led, and blessed by our Heavenly Father every step of the way. It is our purpose that just as our church building stands as a light on the hill, that each member of our church family will serve as a light to the community in the valley below, all to the glory of our God.