Facilities Rentals
ALL ARE WELCOME: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church is an open and welcoming congregation and as such, we offer our facilities to groups and individuals in the community regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, spiritual path/religion, marital status, economic status or personal ability. We expect groups and individuals using our facilities to respect these principles of inclusivity while on our premises.
Our rental fees are based on the specific rooms needed and the total number of people you expect to be present at your event. Alcohol, smoking, and drugs are not permitted on church premises. Renters must have their own liability/property insurance and provide us with a Certificate of Insurance, listing Lake Merritt United Methodist Church as an “additional insured” on the certificate.
View floor plans & 360° photos of our facility here
Please complete our Facility Reservation Form to begin your rental process today. For more information and to return your reservation form, email our Church Administrator at office@lakemerrittumc.org.
About our Lake Merritt campus facility
Determined to be located in central Oakland, with a ministry planned to serve people from all areas of the city, the LMUMC building faces downtown Oakland on the west side, and faces a multi-ethnic Eastlake community along International Blvd. on the east side.
Architect Terrill Wade, of the firm Gillis, Judson, and Wade, designed the new building (Terry is a current member of LMUMC). Initial funding for the construction was obtained through the sale of two previously owned church buildings on valuable property, and two parsonages. It was complemented by donations through three funding campaigns, and no mortgage was necessary. A donor’s wall in the building names all contributors. The completed building was consecrated on March 21, 1991, at a beautiful ceremony with several guest speakers, the newly organized Oakland Festival Chorus performing, and a large community attendance.
The western main entrance of the building at 1330 Lakeshore Ave., features a colored granite grand staircase. The sanctuary’s floor to ceiling windows frame a beautiful view of the lake and downtown Oakland. The northern wall is nearly completely covered by a triptych of three glass mosaic panels entitled “Te Deum Laudamus” (We Praise You, Lord) constructed under the direction of Louis Comfort Tiffany in about 1920. (Read about the mosaic panels here.)
The 1255 First Ave. entrance on the east side includes a parking lot and is wheelchair accessible. Between two wings is a courtyard children’s playground. One wing is used as administrative offices, and the other wing is composed of children’s classrooms for Sunday School and a weekday preschool which rents the property.
There are several multi-use rooms in the building’s interior: the large Franklin Stark fellowship room with a commercial-grade kitchen, and the Minnie Mae Edwards Room furnished as a parlor with small kitchen attached. Franklin Stark was an Oakland attorney and had been very active in many aspects of First United Methodist Church life. Minnie Mae Edwards was mother of TV personality, Ralph Edwards, who attended church and Sunday school in St. Stephens United Methodist Church.
In the lower floor, there is the Aldersgate Room (octagon-shaped) with serving counter. A large parking garage is also on this level. An elevator makes this wheelchair accessible. The stained-glass windows that are installed in light boxes in the lower level hallway were saved from the mostly-destroyed First UMC building before it was razed. Several of the geometrical design windows are also installed in the Administrative Office hallway.
