In the spring of 1935 Lester Lee Freeman, minister of the Church of Christ at 
Aromas, held a gospel meeting in Salinas. This was in response to the need of a small 
group of Christians that had been attending services at Aromas and other nearby towns 
since there was no local Church of Christ. They believed it was their duty to 
establish a church here and Brother Freeman agreed to come from Aromas and preach each 
Sunday evening after holding services at Aromas each Sunday morning.
     Approximately fifteen members of the church met in the Y.M.C.A. building on 
Willow Street (the building no longer exists). With the help of God the church grew 
and prospered.
     As winter approached, so did the need for a better building with adequate heat. 
They were able to rent a church building at 309 Lincoln Street (formerly the English 
Lutheran Church built before the turn of the century).
     The congregation began to meet Sunday morning and evening as well as midweek 
services. In 1938 there were 45 members and in 1938 thee were a total of 68 members. 
In 1939 they also began publishing a monthly bulletin.
     In 1945 property was purchased at 221 California Street. After many hours of hard 
labor by the members the building was completed at a cost of $50,000. Opening day 
services were held June 12, 1949. At that time there were approximately 100 members. 
The building seated 311 and during this time extra chairs were needed at the Sunday 
morning services. It was agreed to begin another congregation in Salinas. Property 
was purchased at 67 Eucalyptus Street in 1958. By 1970 double services were necessary 
at the morning worship with a total attendance over 300. In November 1963 a large 
classroom addition and a new blacktop parking lot was completed.
     Construction at 249 East Alvin Drive began in the fall of 1975. The classrooms 
and fellowship hall were completed in July 1976. The fellowship hall was used as the 
auditorium. A hot tub behind the elder’s room was used as a baptistery. The second phase 
of construction (the auditorium) as begun September 1979 and completed in 1980.