Never mind who has the biggest light display in their front yard “” the be-all and end-all of holiday happenings features viewings that Martha Stewart herself would be proud of when the All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 1475 Catalina Blvd., hosts its 55th annual Christmas Home Tour & Christmas Arts Sale on Saturday, Dec. 2, beginning at 10 a.m.
“The ticket includes viewing of the homes, then returning to the church where the Christmas arts [will be] on sale around noon, and then in the courtyard of the church is a lavish afternoon tea,” said Jacqueline Tomlinson, home tour chairwoman. “Another group of ladies in the kitchen make beautiful tea sandwiches with all the parishioners donating wonderful cookies.”
The event began more than 50 years ago as a small-scale arts sale. A home tour featuring some of the finest Point Loma residences was added shortly thereafter, and now the church’s Annual Christmas Home Tour & Christmas Arts Sale is the oldest one in San Diego and one of the oldest in the country.
“We usually have four homes to show, and years ago the ladies really loved to show their homes because everyone back then was a stay-at-home mother,” she said. “Of course, now with all the working mothers it is a little more of a challenge to find women who want to open their homes, but we manage to do it every single year.”
The event serves as a major fund-raiser for the church to help provide community programs in San Diego as well as sponsorship of its African mission in Kenya, where two of its parishioners direct a hospital and training college for doctors and clergy.
“Our reverend, Michael Russell, spent a couple of months in Africa last summer and so he came back with an absolutely up-to-date understanding of their needs,” Tomlinson said. “We are supporting needy children, many of whom are sick with AIDS, as well as supporting the mothers who struggle to feed them.”
The homeowners decide how they want to decorate their homes, and creativity reigns in the process. A committee of the church selects which homes will be showcased and then works with the homeowners to make the tour happen. Two teams of nine volunteers from the church man the houses to help visitors get the best viewing and assure that homes are taken care of.
The first home is the Strawn residence in La Playa, a two-story house nominated by the city of San Diego for historic landmark significance. Home features include white vertical Grecian columns, French doors flanked by tall dark green shutters, a marble-fronted fireplace with a white wood mantelpiece, and a brick path through the lawn and garden. The house was originally part of the Spanish community called La Playa during the 18th century.
The second home is also in the La Playa area and set on a hillside overlooking the San Diego Bay. The house was completely remodeled in 2004 and features board-on-board exterior siding that retains the look of the original structure built by the owner’s father in 1951. Design features include glass blocks, an exit patio that leads to a gazebo shadowed by a large Fichus tree glass, as well as wood and slate fashioned in a natural, open contemporary and informal environment.
The third residence is owned by the Keating family and sits above Sunset Cliffs in the Azure Vista area. The brand-new home affords a 200-degree ocean view from the Coronado Islands to La Jolla Shores. It was inspired by early 20th-century Southern California style with Spanish and Mediterranean influences and features an 18-foot-tall circular entrance foyer that opens the home.

The fourth home, a 1950s English Tudor-style home in Point Loma, is owned by a flourishing, award-winning San Diego interior designer. A pink and green holiday theme abounds for decorations, ornaments, snowman, candy jars, Christmas tree, as well as a unique Santa carrying a pink and green bag filled with pink and green toys.
Other tour highlights include the Rev. Mike’s baked bread, which he will cook up in one of the homes; a tour of the church artwork; surprise Christmas trees, elves, dolls, and wreaths; as well as Angels with an Attitude, a nouveau art project.
“It is also a very special day to bring the parish together as a total unit in order to attend to the about 800 expected visitors,” Tomlinson said.
Home tours take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with Christmas organ music and tours of church artwork from noon to 3 p.m.
Tea runs from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the afternoon will wrap up with the Christmas Arts Sale from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $22 on the day of the tour. For information call (619) 223-6394.