Wilshire’s first structure, built in 1953, was the two-story educational building seen at the top of this photo. These walls today contain the Parlor, classrooms and the second-floor music area.

Work to build a chapel began soon after the first building was completed. It opened in 1954 and was oriented the opposite direction from how we know it today. This photo was taken from the chancel looking toward Abrams Road. 

The original education building was expanded northward in 1957 and again in 1961. In this photo, the full length of the educational building can be seen as construction begins on the Sanctuary. 

Wilshire’s new Sanctuary opened, with the Fellowship Hall underneath it, in 1966, and construction of the two-story north wing was completed soon after. The Sanctuary’s organ pipes were uncovered in the early 1990s, and the chancel was renovated to its present look in 1996.

In 1983, a third floor of classrooms was added to most of the building. In 2009, the third floor was extended to the south end of the building when the new music suite was created.

Built in 1999, the new James Gallery provided additional connectivity to the north end of the building and gave Wilshire a new space for events.

After expansion of the north parking lot, the area outside the Gallery was converted to the Prayer Garden in 2000.

In 2009, Fellowship Hall was converted to the Community Hall we know today. This work included the addition of the north and south atria and staircases.

2009 also saw the creation of a two-story music wing with an all-new Choral Hall, Handbell Room, music library, practice rooms and offices.

The Columbarium, with its benches, fountain and labyrinth, opened in 2010 in a space outside the Parlor, adjacent to Wilshire’s original building.

Wilshire’s first pastor was Huber Drumwright. He served on a part-time basis from 1951 until 1955, a period of growth and building for the young church.

Ralph Langley was pastor from 1955 to early 1958. During Langley’s tenure, the Wilshire membership grew from 439 to 1,391. 

Bruce McIver was a Wilshire member when he was called as pastor in 1958. He would serve 30 years, leading Wilshire as it grew in numbers, facilities and mission work. Bruce retired in 1988 and was pastor emeritus until his death in 2001.

Under George Mason, senior pastor from 1989 until 2022, Wilshire aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and grew in inclusion and interfaith work. George started Wilshire’s pastoral residency program in 2002.

Timothy Peoples, who served as a Wilshire pastoral resident from 2015 to 2017, began as the church’s fifth senior pastor in January 2023.