St Augustine by The Sea Episcopal Church

Information may not be reliable

-- 1227 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, California 90401 -- (310) 395-0977

Saint Augustine's identifies itself as an "open church." By this we mean that all persons are welcome to come and be part of this community wherever they are in their spiritual journey. We seek to be a safe place for skeptics and doubters as well as for convicted believers.
We are an inclusive church in which people from many backgrounds have found common ground. We are a diverse community which discovered in God a oneness greater in significance than our differences. We have come to know that our variety, in truth, refects the divine comprehensiveness of the God of all created things.

On St. Francis Sunday, October 3rd 2010 we will have a special Eucharist in the courtyard of the church at which time we will recognize and bless our animal companions who hold such a special place in our lives. Please bring your cats, dogs, and other animal friends to celebrate together with us this special annual event!

by Jennifer Pavia, Director of Children's Education
He is ever present when His words are shared, love is present, and everyone understands that they have been claimed as His own. It is where children learn the stories that can help them recognize God at work in their own lives. MORE…
How to be a Healing Presence With Anyone Any Time
by Gretchen Haight
The above title describes the subject of the Adult Education class this fall, facilitated by Fr. Mark and the healing prayer group. The class will begin on Sunday, October 17th meeting between services, at 9:30 AM, for five weeks. The book we will read and discuss is The Art of Being a Healing Presence, by James E. Miller with Susan C. Cutshall. MORE…
A Message from Fr. Mark Stuart, Interim Rector
What Does Stewardship Mean to You?
Stewardship may mean the fund-raising drive for the new building project to one person. Another one may say it means the every-member canvass and the fall pledge drive for next year's budget. MORE…
Farewells and New Beginnings…

by The Rev. Michael Bell
Just two weeks ago, we were celebrating together the Feast of our parish patron Saint Augustine of Hippo while also bidding me farewell. This is a little note to highlight how my vocational journey continues in Manhattan, Kansas, and to, again, offer my heart-felt thanks to our St. A's family. MORE…
Invitation to Participate in a New Service Ministry
by Deacon Katie Derose
Common Ground − the Westside HIV Community Center − is a local organization that St. Augustine has supported off and on over the years. Recently we were asked by Common Ground if we could provide a regular hot meal for youth participating in their HYPE (Homeless Youth Peer Education) program. MORE…

St. Augustine by-the-Sea first built a church on this property in 1887. The property across the street upon which Parking Lot #1 sits, 1234 4th Street, originally belonged to our church also. When it was transferred to the parking authority of the City of Santa Monica in 1962, the city and the church entered into a "gentlemen's agreement" that persons visiting or attending the church would not be charged for parking there on Sunday mornings. We have operated under that understanding since the first structures were opened sometime in 1965 or 1966. Our parishioners have been parking without charge on Sunday mornings since the parking structures for nearly 50 years.

On October 7, 1965, a representative of the City met with the Rev. Robert Rusack of St. Augustine by-the-Sea (later Bishop of Los Angeles) about the creation of a Downtown Parking District for the new Third Street Promenade that would include building new parking structures with some monthly assessments to local businesses, including the church. The City's representative (Leslie Storr, who went on to become a historian of Santa Monica) guaranteed that parking would be free of charge to St. Augustine members. Notes of this meeting are recorded in the official minute book of the vestry.
For a period of time, this "gentlemen's agreement" was carried out by stamping tickets with a special validation stamp by St. Augustine's reading "I worshipped at St. Augustine." (We still have this stamp.)
In 1987, the City proposed installing parking meters (since removed) in the parking structures. At that time, St. Augustine's representatives, and those of neighboring churches, asked the City to allow free parking on Sunday mornings at the metered spaces. The City staff met with church representatives and again promised that "unmetered parking spaces would be available on an unrestricted basis for Sunday use."
Since at least the early 1990s, after removal of the meters, Parking Structure #1 has been entirely free to the public before 1:00pm on Sundays.
This is only about Sunday mornings: we pay the regular rate for monthly parking permits for our rector and staff members who park during weekdays.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Having pored over ancient vestry records and city council minutes, we have reconstructed the history of the parking agreement you see above. We are in the process of contacting our City Council members with this information and this history. We are asking for their support in restoring the previous policy and honoring our longstanding agreement. We need your support too! At some point in the next couple of months there will be an agenda item before the City Council. We will give everyone notice and ask as many of you to attend as possible.