The Heart of Berkeley: The Historic McGee-Spaulding District

The Church of the Nazarene built the original church on the site in 1898. At that time, this church served as the "western base" for the Nazarenes, and had special historic significance for administratively covering the entire area west of the Mississippi River. The building on the corner of McKinley and Bancroft Way consisted of a large chapel on the first floor, with the pastor's quarters above. The community hall was added to the building in the 1950s. Some of the original wooden walls can be viewed from inside the monastery's store. If one looks behind the current Buddhist altar, the old Nazarene full-immersion baptismal font can still be seen.

The Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, which follows the tradition of Chinese Buddhist Master Hsuan Hua, bought the building in 1994. The now quaint- appearing old Nazarene church tower is still preserved and passers-by can easily spot it from the street. In what was formerly the church chapel, the monastery holds regular meditation groups and services which are open to the public. While the exterior remains plain except for the old tower, the interior space has been completely transformed with its ornate stain glass windows, statuary, and elaborate devotional altar.