CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

What CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH does

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles (FCCLA) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization founded in 1867 and affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC). It operates from a single 157,000-square-foot neo-gothic cathedral campus at 540 S Commonwealth Ave in the Koreatown/Westlake district of Los Angeles, completed in 1932 and recognized as the oldest Protestant church in continuous service in the city. The campus includes an 800-seat Sanctuary, Shatto Chapel, multiple reception and courtyard spaces, and The Great Organs complex — among the largest church pipe organs in the world with 18,094 speaking pipes, 328 ranks, 15 divisions, and 278 speaking stops.

FCCLA's programmatic portfolio spans four core pillars. The core religious offering is hybrid Sunday worship (11:00 AM with a 10:30 AM organ prelude), live-streamed via YouTube, supported by a professional music program including the Cathedral Choir, auditioned ensemble Laude, Cathedral Ringers handbell choir, and the Commonwealth children's choir. Community programs include Food@First (serving ~220 families twice monthly), Gardens & Farm urban agriculture, First Kids First children's ministry, and progressive-justice initiatives such as the annual Fulfilling The Dream MLK concert in partnership with Creating Justice LA. The third pillar is a venue-rental business offering wedding packages (Shatto Chapel from $1,500; Classic Ceremony Package in the Sanctuary), corporate and social event rentals across multiple indoor/outdoor spaces, and commercial filming handled through a dedicated media representative. The fourth pillar is the Music Partner Program, hosting five named external choral organizations (Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Vox Femina, Southeast Symphony, Top Shelf, LA Choral Lab) as home-base ensembles for rehearsals and annual concerts.

Revenue is generated from voluntary congregant donations and pledges (processed through Blackbaud and PayPal), wedding and event venue rentals, commercial filming fees, and ticketed/free concerts. The organization is led by Senior Minister and CEO Rev. Laura Vail Fregin, with Director of Music Dr. David Harris (DMA) and Organist-in-Residence Dr. Christoph Bull as the principal arts leadership. Distribution is primarily local/regional for physical attendance, with global reach via YouTube live streaming; financial details are not publicly disclosed as a religious non-profit.

Name

CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Legal name

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles

Website

https://fccla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1867

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is a progressive Protestant non-profit (founded 1867, UCC-affiliated) operating a 157,000 sq ft historic neo-gothic campus with a world-class pipe organ, serving congregants, wedding and event clients, music ensembles, and the LA community through worship, venue rentals, and outreach programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services and Place of Worship

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protestant Mainline Broadcasting (MPABALAD)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Wedding venue rentals
• Pipe organ concerts
• Community outreach programs
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Tithes: Voluntary contributions from congregants through pledges, tithes, offerings, and contributions. Members can set up weekly or monthly recurring e-giving contributions through the Advancement Office.
2. Venue Rental Services: Rental revenue from hosting weddings, receptions, concerts, filming, and other events in the Sanctuary (800 capacity), Shatto Chapel (100 capacity), Forecourt (400 standing), Mayflower Courtyard, Barnum Room, and other campus spaces.
3. Wedding and Event Packages: Package-based pricing for wedding ceremonies including Classic Ceremony Package and Shatto Chapel Wedding Package with officiant, organist, venue access, and other amenities.
4. Commercial Filming/Locations: Location rental fees for commercial filming and recording not related to weddings or events, handled through media location representative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is a progressive Protestant church operating from a historic 1932 neo-gothic landmark campus. It provides in-person and live-streamed Sunday worship services, professional music ensemble programming built around The Great Organs complex, wedding and event venue rentals across multiple indoor and outdoor spaces, and community outreach programs including food distribution and urban agriculture. The church serves both its congregational membership and external venue/event clients, generating revenue through voluntary donations and venue rental fees.

Product overview

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is a progressive Protestant church offering a portfolio of religious, arts, community, and venue rental programs. The core offerings include Sunday worship services (live-streamed via YouTube), professional music ensembles (Cathedral Choir, Laude, Cathedral Ringers, The Commonwealth children's choir), and the celebrated Great Organs concert series featuring one of the world's largest pipe organs. The church operates a comprehensive wedding and event venue business offering Classic Ceremony and Shatto Chapel packages across multiple indoor and outdoor spaces (Sanctuary, Forecourt, Barnum Room, Mayflower Courtyard, Stuart Hall) with add-on services. Community programs include First Kids First children's ministry, Food@First monthly food distribution, and Gardens & Farm urban agriculture. Special programs include the annual Fulfilling The Dream MLK concert, Patrick Cassidy's 'The Mass' album and performances, and the Music Partner Program hosting regional choral organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Great Organs Concert Series Concert programming featuring The Great Organs, one of the world's largest church pipe organs with 18,094 speaking pipes. Includes organ prelude concerts at 10:30am on Sundays, festival services, and special concert events.
• Laude Professional Vocal Ensemble Auditioned professional vocal ensemble representing top LA vocalists, composers, and soloists. Performs at Sunday services, special concerts, recordings, and premieres new choral works.
• Cathedral Choir Professional choir ensemble leading Sunday worship services and special events including Christmas Eve, MLK celebrations, and Great Works concerts. Includes professional artists from LA's vocal and theater communities.
• Cathedral Ringers Handbell Choir Handbell choir directed by Grace Sheldon-Williams, performing during special services. Open to players of all ages; meets Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.
• The Commonwealth Children's Choir Monthly singing community for children and teens (grades 5-12) led by Brandon Harris, preparing pieces for Sunday services and special performances including Christmas Eve pageant.
• Hybrid Live Worship Services Sunday worship services at 11:00 AM with organ prelude at 10:30 AM, offered in-person and live-streamed via YouTube, featuring organist, Laude ensemble, and Cathedral Choir.
• First Kids First Children's Program Spiritual enrichment program for children from infants through 12th grade, featuring age-appropriate classrooms, music, art, community building, and youth-led programming centered on social justice.
• Food@First Food Distribution Program Monthly food distribution program serving approximately 220 families with fresh produce, canned goods, protein, hygiene products, and reusable bags on the 1st and 3rd Sundays.
• Gardens & Farm Urban Agriculture Program Urban regenerative gardens and farm program growing organic produce to feed neighbors facing food insecurity, with educational workshops, community volunteering, and environmental sustainability initiatives.
• Venue Rentals Event venue rental services for the sanctuary, chapels, and indoor/outdoor spaces including the Sanctuary (800 capacity), Shatto Chapel (100), Forecourt (250-400), Mayflower Courtyard (60-100), Barnum Room (70-125), and Amanda Scott Room (60-80).
• Wedding Venue Rentals Full-service wedding ceremony and reception venue offering multiple indoor and outdoor spaces including the Main Sanctuary, Shatto Chapel, Forecourt, Mayflower Courtyard, Barnum Room, and Stuart Hall, with on-site officiants and event coordination.
• Fulfilling The Dream MLK Concert Annual MLK Day concert and service celebrating housing justice and Dr. King's legacy, featuring mass choir, guest artists, and community partners including Creating Justice LA.
• Patrick Cassidy's 'The Mass' Album and Performance Album and live concert performance of Patrick Cassidy's choral work by Laude and The Great Organs, recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Music Partner Program Partnership program hosting external choral organizations including Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Vox Femina, Southeast Symphony, Top Shelf, and LA Choral Lab for rehearsals and annual concerts at the church.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 220 families per month through Food@First food distribution program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Creating Justice LAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2025Partnership with Creating Justice LA, their Center for Peace and Healing in Skid Row, and Skid Row People's Market for the annual Fulfilling The Dream concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. The center creates community through compassion in the epicenter of LA's housing crisis, providing belonging, curiosity, creativity, a business center, and free snacks and smoothies.
• The Resonance CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the premiere of Patrick Cassidy's 'The Mass' with Martin Sheen as MC. The Resonance Collective curates the Golden Thread Concert Series expanding ritual and ceremonial elements into spiritual and artistic experiences.
• IrelandWeekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the premiere of Patrick Cassidy's 'The Mass' aligning with Ireland's centennial of independence.
• Gay Men's Chorus of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized chorus uses the church as home-base for rehearsals and performs at least one concert per year in the venue. Members also participate in Sunday morning worship.
• Vox Femina of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized women's chorus uses the church as home-base for rehearsals and performs at least one concert per year in the venue.
• Southeast SymphonycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoral organization uses the church as home-base for rehearsals and performs at least one concert per year in the venue.
• Top ShelfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocal ensemble uses the church as home-base for rehearsals and performs at least one concert per year in the venue.
• LA Choral LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoral organization uses the church as home-base for rehearsals and performs at least one concert per year in the venue.
• United Church of Christ (UCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Congregational Church of Los Angeles is a proud member of the United Church of Christ, a progressive Christian denomination.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/firstchurchla
• Instagraminstagram.com/1stchurchla
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congregational-christian-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH