My L.A. in Four Locations: Storefront Churches

By Kevin McCollisterAugust 27, 2018

My L.A. in Four Locations: Storefront Churches

My L.A. in Four Locations is a running feature in which Angelenos share the story of their city through four specific places. This week, Kevin McCollister takes us on a brief tour of storefront churches.


Visually speaking, there are still large parts of Los Angeles that seem stuck in a time warp. Humble, easy to overlook, and focused on spiritual solutions, these storefront churches are the exact opposite of what L.A. is commonly understood to be. Yet, throughout vast stretches of the city, you see them hiding in plain sight. Some are colorful and some are dour. While I can't confirm the efficacy of their solutions, I believe it is important that their existence be acknowledged as a spiritual, cultural, and aesthetic force within the city.

2225 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, 90006 — Iglesia Cristo Te Llama: Quiet and plain; not empty. A sanctuary for two.




 

8001 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, 90047 — Early morning sunlight on something like adobe. An unnamed church, either you know or you don't.



5160 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, 90016 — Iglesia De Dios Pentecostes: Many corners of Los Angeles have this sunblasted quality, although they seem to be quickly disappearing, replaced by mixed-use apartments.



3051 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, 90005 — Mision Cristiana Pentecostal Inc.: Harsh colors. Formidable and without windows. A dark interior perhaps made brighter by its message.



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Photographs by Kevin McCollister.

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Kevin McCollister is a Los Angeles–based photographer. His latest book is East of West LA.

LARB Contributor

Born in Ohio, Kevin McCollister worked as a deckhand on the Mississippi River for several years after which he lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he attended Harvard University Extension School. He has now lived in Los Angeles longer than he has lived in any other city. His book East of West LA was published in 2010.

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