Facility Use
First Presbyterian Church’s 4-acre property is conveniently located in mid-town Santa Barbara. Many of our buildings and rooms are available for rent for recurring and one-time events and include spaces that can accommodate groups ranging from 10 to 650 people. We also have a large parking lot that can hold up to 130 vehicles. Our commercial kitchen can be used, or you can contract food preparation with our in-house caterer; bringing in light refreshments is allowed in certain rooms.
We give priority to religious ceremonies and community charitable organizations, but we can also rent our facilities to private groups, subject to certain tax and legal requirements.
If you wish to utilize our facilities for weddings or memorial services, please contact first our Pastor Ann Conklin (aconklin@fpcsb.org). For all other events and uses, please complete and submit the appropriate rental request forms on this website.”
The Sanctuary
The Chapel
The Christian Fellowship Center
The Garden Room
| Location | Half Day (4 hrs) | Full Day (8 hrs) | Setup / Breakdown / Restroom Cleanup |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFC | $500 | $800 | $50 per hour |
| Sanctuary | $1,000 | $1,500 | $50 per hour |
| Garden Room | $200 | $300 | $50 per hour |
| Chapel | $300 | $500 | $50 per hour |
We can help you host milestone events like weddings and memorials, as well as meetings, lectures and concerts.
For additional details and a definitive cost estimate, please fill out the “Facilities Use Request Form” which includes information about each room’s capacity and features. For FPC members and 501 ©(3) groups, please contact our Church Business Administrator.
Note that weddings and memorials might also incur personnel costs of approximately $1,500 - $2,000.
Renting Space FAQs
What are your basic rental requirements?
At minimum, all requests must identify a point of contact for all coordination, and provide a Certificate of Insurance in the amount of $1 million that names First Presbyterian Church as an additional insured.
Do you rent for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.?
We will entertain requests subject to group size and adherence to our alcohol policy.
Do you rent to for‑profit companies?
No. Doing so is a violation of our tax‑exempt status.
Do you only rent to Christian organizations or groups?
We do not require any party or organization to be Christian or even faith‑based, we do require that it not hold philosophical beliefs that are diametrically opposed to ours.
What rooms are available? How many people do they hold?
Garden Room: Seats approximately 40. Available evenings and weekends only. No AV available
Anderson Lounge: Seats approximately 30. Typically only available during business hours. AV available
Christian Fellowship Center: Seats approximately 240 at round tables or 300 in auditorium seating. AV available
Chapel: Seats approximately 80. Limited AV available
Sanctuary: Seats approximately 650 including balcony plus 50 on chancel. AV available
What is the approval process like?
Once a request form is received by our Facilities Coordinator, they will confirm the requested room and date are available and note any questions on the event. The request is then presented to staff at our weekly staff meeting for discussion and final approval. If your request is approved, they will draw up a Facilities Use Agreement (“Agreement”) for your review and approval. The Agreement will stipulate all fees as well as specific requirements for using the space.
What are your fees?
Fees vary greatly depending on the event, room being used, and time being used. Please refer to the listed rates shown under each event type and listed space.
What is included in the rental fee?
Depending on the space, chairs and tables are included, as well as setup and teardown of the chairs and tables. Any additional costs such as custodial and audio‑visual support will be noted in the Agreement.
Is catering available? Can we use your kitchen? Can we bring our own food?
The church has a relationship with a caterer who can work with you to provide a delicious meal at a reasonable cost. Otherwise, due to regulations, our commercial kitchen is available only for the plating of light refreshments, such as pizza, sandwiches, and drinks. If you do not need the kitchen, certain rooms allow you to bring light refreshments while others do not (please refer to the Facilities Description link).
Weddings
In the Presbyterian Church, a wedding is a service of worship where God is glorified, the good news of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, marriage vows are made, and prayers are offered for the couple, the community, and the world. The opening of the wedding service serves to welcome all into God’s presence, to frame this celebratory occasion as a worship service, and to offer a Christian view of marriage.
Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple also sustains them through the many joys and sorrows they will encounter in their journey together. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is a covenant in which God is at the center; therefore, God’s deep and abiding love for the couple being married will also sustain them throughout their lives.
Because we, as Christians, understand marriage as one area of life in which people live out their faith, a Christian marriage ceremony involves the reading and proclamation of Scripture. This links the couple’s story to the story of God and God’s people. It speaks of God’s faithfulness as an example for human faithfulness. The vows made on this special day are publicly witnessed by the gathered community. When the couple is prayed for, this too bears witness to God’s faithfulness even as we give thanks for the grace of Jesus Christ and ask the blessing of the Holy Spirit to uphold the couple in marriage.
Please contact our Pastor, Rev. Ann Conklin, to inquire about having your wedding at First Presbyterian Church. She will want to meet with you to learn more about your lives and faith, to discuss your desires for your wedding, and to provide information about pre-marital counseling sessions. We wish you God’s every blessing upon your wedding planning and marriage!
Memorial Services and Funerals
In the Presbyterian church, a memorial service or funeral is known as a “Service of Witness to the Resurrection” because it bears witness to the hope that we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this time of worship, we remember, honor, and celebrate the life of the deceased. One of our pastors meets with the family or other loved ones to ensure that the service is personalized and contains elements that are meaningful to the one being remembered, such as special readings, prayers, hymns, or other music. Our pastors also offer pastoral support and care during this difficult time of grieving.
The Service of Witness to the Resurrection is characterized by simplicity, dignity, and gratitude. During this time of worship, we give thanks and praise to God for the gift of life even as we seek God’s comfort in a time of loss and grief. As we gather for this important time of remembrance, our prayer is that you will find solace in the presence of God and loved ones, experience the hope of the gospel, and find closure as we commend the deceased into God’s everlasting peace and eternal rest.
The service may take place in our sanctuary or our chapel. Graveside services are also sometimes conducted at a local cemetery. Please contact our pastor, Rev. Ann Conklin, to discuss a service for your loved one. May God’s loving presence surround and comfort you during this difficult time of loss.