La Perla del Mar, formerly Shell Beach Methodist Church, held its grand opening. It will be used for community events, weddings, church services, yoga classes and more.

Shelley Malcolm of Shell Beach knew that it was meant to be.

When the longtime Shell Beach Methodist Church— built in the early 1940s at Pearl Street and Windward Avenue- was put up for sale a year ago because of a declining congregation, Malcolm wanted to make sure it remained a part of the community.

"My heart broke that the congregation had gotten to that point," Malcolm said. "I asked my husband if we could buy it -do something to save it."

A developer was in the process of buying the property, planning to demolish the buildings and construct homes. When that fell through, Malcolm said her heart jumped at the second chance.

Then, while driving home from a trip to Los Angeles, Malcolm shared her hopes of transforming the church into a community venue with close friend Garin Sinclair of Arroyo Grande.

"She looked at it the next day and didn’t hesitate," Malcolm said. "We share the same value systems for just lifting up the community, and she immediately saw the site’s potential for people getting together in the spirit of good will."

Malcolm and Sinclair met with people from the community who agreed with their wish to see the building transformed, Malcolm said.

A mere six months later, the makeover into La Perla del Mar was complete. The grand opening was celebrated this past weekend.

The venue will be available for weddings, banquets, receptions and various community recreation classes, such as yoga and drama.

A small, historic one-room schoolhouse on the property has been converted into a two-bedroom cottage that can be used for wedding parties.

On Sundays, the chapel hosts a small nondenominational congregation called At the Cross.

"There is a new history beginning here," Malcolm said. "The name translates from Spanish to mean the pearl by the sea... because it is a precious place to our community."

Church is reborn as a community center
Nick Wilson & AnnMarie Cornejo, San Luis Obispo Tribune

Labels: About, News