The Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, often referred to as the “Red Brick Church” by residents, took a “generational step forward” June 23 and 24 at its 75th anniversary celebration when it unveiled renovations to the church and campus at a Saturday night gala and during Sunday services. “This is a place of community,” said the Rev. Dr. John Paul Powell. The iconic church campus is on 2.5 acres at the heavily traveled intersection in Loma Portal where Chatsworth Boulevard intersects Voltaire Street and Poinsettia Drive. “People driving by look at the church and see it as a happy place,” said Powell. “We’re a bright beacon in a dark world.” The first of two phases of the church’s $2.5 million renovation included gutting the sanctuary built in 1954. Inside, stone floors were installed under pews. The mahogany pews were refurbished, the chancel was raised, new lighting was installed and a media suite was added the balcony. The centerpiece of the sanctuary’s remodel is a new 3,000-pipe, 52-rank organ that faces a 15-foot stained-glass window. Outside, a prayer garden of benches and contemporary landscaping replaced an underutilized grassy area of mature trees. “We have great bones, but needed a facelift,” Powell said. “It was tired.” Powell said the major costs of the renovation were the $200,000 stained-glass window and $850,000 Blackinton-built organ. A company based in El Cajon, Blackinton is nationally renowned for its organs. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an organist to have a new instrument built,” said organist Alicia McMillan. The previous 16-rank organ was incorporated into the new instrument. To demonstrate the organ’s depth, McMillan chose Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Toccata and Feude in D Minor, BWV 538” for its Sunday service debut. “The piece shows the wonderful rainbow of sounds and colors of the organ,” McMillan said. The west-facing stained-glass window, which brings in light where there was previously a wall, was produced by Michael Huff and Suzy Spafford Lidstrom. The creator of Suzy’s Zoo greeting cards, Spafford Lidstrom also illustrated the window. It is made up of nearly 800 pieces of glass in 15 panels that depict a cross above a scene of the tip of Point Loma jutting into the the Pacific Ocean. The outdoor prayer garden is an open but secure oasis in a high-density urban hodgepodge of competing architecture. Larger nearby buildings include the James Edgar & Jean Jessop Hervey Point Loma Library built in 2003 with a nautical theme, and a Point Loma High School classroom building that debuted in 2010 to an “Onion Award” from the San Diego Architectural Foundation. An eclectic collection of residential buildings and businesses, including a hostel, fill in the area. The prayer garden is a “sacred space,” Powell said. “I hope skateboarders show some respect.” Skateboard deterrents that blend with the garden’s aesthetics have been mounted on top of the benches. Powell said renovations were complete without incurring any debt. “We were able to double [contributions] during this country’s greatest recession,” he said. Powell attributes the accomplishment to a grassroots effort and commitment of people who see the church as a benefit to the community. Steve LaDow chaired the renovation. Hal Sadler was the master architect. Don Griffith led weekly meetings. Bridget Cantu Wear oversaw a feasibility financial study. John Spafford chaired the capital campaign with the help of the Red Brick Circle and Jill Curtiss. David Ryan spearheaded major gifts. Loren Rindal prepared landscape plans with support from Kurt Walter and Jim Lester. Ware and Jean Federici chaired the gala.