Gulfview was organized in 1954 by Mattie Mae and Joe Bell, (owners of Bells Cottages and Belmar Hotel, where Sugar Sands Motel now stands), Tollie and Ethel Sullivan (Lee Sullivan’s grandparents), Dan Nunnelley, Horace and Martha Thorne, Charles Sweeney, Mr. and Mrs. Bramlett, (who lived in a house behind the Rainbow Motel – now called Wisteria Inn), Mary Durham and Robert and Margaret Rogers – all were very active in the church organization. This group went to the District Superintendent and received permission to build the church in Laguna Beach. In 1955, J. B. and Carolee Lahan donated land on Rose Lane for the church. Construction began in September 1955. During construction, services were held at Bells Cottages and at Lahans’ large pavilion used for community affairs. This was located where “The Carousel” now stands. The church was completed in 1956. The church records show a freight bill dated October 26, 1955 for a locomotive bell, weight 350 pounds. This was the “first” church bell. In 1988 the bell was replaced in the second steeple by a tape system, speakers were attached so people could be called to church by music.
Gulfview was the “first” church on the beach. The Lahan’s donated land for an Episcopal Church shortly after Gulfview was built. The Presbyterian Church building program soon followed. These three churches sometimes held services on successive Sundays; all members would attend and were very supportive of each other.
Linwood Lewis was the first pastor of the church. He was a Methodist student at Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama and would arrive on Friday evenings, staying with the Rogers or Sweeneys. He continued his education at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and served in the Methodist Conference. He completed his ministry as Director at Blue Lake.
Gulfview’s first worship at 232 Rose Lane was February 12, 1956. The Cornerstone was laid in November 1956 and was celebrated with a dinner for members. The meal was served by the Methodist Women.
The dedication of the church and a mortgage burning was celebrated in 1962. Rev. James C. Brown was the pastor. The women once again blessed the service with a dinner for all. There were 13 charter members on record at this time, and many friendly, helping hands.
The first parsonage was built on Oleander Drive in 1957-58 by the members of the church. Further building programs included: adding a North and South Chapel in 1988-89; the present parsonage on Nancy Drive in 1994-95; the Mathison Education Annex in 1997-98. The annex was built in honor of Rev. Si Mathison and in loving memory of his wife, “Miss Mary”. Rev. Jim Fillingim, 1995-2001, was the first pastor to occupy the new parsonage, and was pastor during construction of the educational annex building. The Legacy Pavilion was built in 2023 under the leadership of Pastor Brad Zimanek.
In March 2026, the church council voted to leave the United Methodist Church due to changes in doctrine within the denomination and return to their original name, Gulfview Methodist Church. Gulfview Methodist Church is a unique church. The congregation comes from all over the United States, Canada, and visitors come from all over the world – all here to worship together. Our doors are always open to everyone and we sincerely invite you to join in our ministry for the Lord.
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