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Ladera Community Church celebrated its 70th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 7, with dozens of church members in attendance reminiscing the church’s history, people and commemorating new beginnings.
The first Ladera Church service in 1954 took place on the patio of a local home. Seventy years later, the church has grown into a community gathering place for Laderans, welcoming those from all backgrounds.
Ladera Church moderator Mike Smith said one of the biggest milestones for the church was in 1998 when they became “open and affirming,” welcoming the LGBTQ community. Smith also mentioned the building of the cottage which housed a refugee family from Laos in the 1980s and the creation of the preschool in 1966, which is now managed by Sharmilla Montessori.
Smith said Ladera Church became his extended family when he and his family moved to Portola Valley in 1989. With both his wife and his family being out of state, they didn’t have any family in California.
The church also welcomed its new pastor, Rev. Evelyn Vigil, who previously served as a bridge pastor while the church was seeking a new permanent minister. She looks forward to participating with a congregation that is “committed to social justice issues, working with immigrants and enhancing the spiritual development of everyone there.”
Vigil also served as a chaplain in Santa Clara County jails for 18 years and worked as an associate pastor at the Community Church of Sunnyvale. She has experience as a grief counselor in hospice care.
“We strive to be a church that is welcoming of the whole person, which means you don’t have to twist yourself into a pretzel to fit in. Jesus didn’t turn people away and neither would the church,” said Vigil. “So no human label, straight, gay, white, Black, Hispanic, disabled, or anything else would be a barrier to membership in our church.”
The church’s “nondoctrinal nature” is what makes it unique, said John Nightingale, who has been a member of the church since the early 1990s. “There’s no set belief system that you need to have and the church has a great acceptance for everyone,” he added.
Vigil said many congregations “give lip service” to many of its commitments but Ladera Church brings its words into action.
A banner featuring an image of an angel, handpainted by a church member, hangs inside Ladera Community Church in Portola Valley on Dec. 7, 2024. Photo by Magali Gauthier. 
Ladera Community Church members attend an event celebrating the church’s 70th anniversary in Portola Valley on Dec. 7, 2024. Photo by Magali Gauthier. 
Ladera Community Church moderator Mike Smith welcomes members to an event celebrating the church’s 70th anniversary in Portola Valley on Dec. 7, 2024. Photo by Magali Gauthier. 
Anadel Law, left, chats with Mike Smith during an event celebrating the 70th anniversary of Ladera Community Church in Portola Valley on Dec. 7, 2024.At 99 years old, Law is one of the oldest and longest members of the church. Photo by Magali Gauthier. 
Joanna Vollrath, center, smiles at an event she organized to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ladera Community Church in Portola Valley on Dec. 7, 2024. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
Joanna Vollrath, director of the 70th anniversary, grew up in the church participating in service projects. She remembers making sandwiches for unhoused individuals at the San Mateo County Navigation Center, formerly Maple Street, and doing service work with the Sierra Service Project, building houses and working with youth groups.
Ladera Church continues to uphold progressive initiatives through various service projects and promoting acceptance.
Church attendance has been declining across the nation and Ladera Church is no different. A recent Gallup poll found that 30% of U.S. adults attend religious services every week or almost every week, compared to 42% two decades ago.
“The dedication these people had to create something from scratch and then continue to grow is really awe-inspiring,” said Smith. “So what I kind of challenge the group with is how do we become that next S-curve to bring in and show our light and have people participate with us?” said Smith.
Smith said the church is trying to make itself more attractive and relevant to the community by focusing on updating its facilities and hosting community events such as the Portola Valley Arts Fest.
Ladera Community Church. 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. Website: ladera.org.
