100 Years of Casual Laguna Beach Church Services
@DeborahDiane (40854)
Laguna Woods, California
July 30, 2017 5:17pm CST
When I wrote a few weeks ago about about "Flip Flop Sundays" at our Laguna Beach California Presbyterian Church, I thought it was a something which had been instituted in the past decade or two.
At the very most, I thought the casual summer church services may have been started by our head minister of the past 50 years. He took over our church during the turbulent 1960s and is beloved by many people in the town.
However, I was stunned when our church staff discovered an article in the 1916 Laguna Beach newspaper, encouraging tourists to come to church at the Laguna Beach chapel (which became the Presbyterian Church in 1918) wearing whatever they wanted, including their swim suits! That must have been a sight to see in 1916. 
6 people like this
6 responses
@LadyDuck (503038)
• Italy
1 Aug 17
@DeborahDiane For sure they would have not been allowed in a Catholic Church in Italy. Not even short sleeves were allowed when I was a kid and women had to cover their head. You surely have seen that they still have to cover their head to see the Pope, I wonder why there is more respect for the Pope than for God.
Not even short sleeves were allowed when I was a kid and women had to cover their head. You surely have seen that they still have to cover their head to see the Pope, I wonder why there is more respect for the Pope than for God.1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40854)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Jul 17
@LadyDuck - Yes, they were much more modest in the early 1900s. Still, I think it would have been unusual for anyone to wear their swimwear to church! LOL
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40854)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Aug 17
@LadyDuck - Ahhh! Now that is an interesting question ... why it is more important to dress a certain way to see the Pope, but not to go to church. I was Catholic as a child, and I remember having to cover my head, too. My grandmother kept little lace scarves for us to wear. You are absolutely right that wearing swimwear to church would never have been allowed!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Jul 17
Laguna Beach was always a pretty out there artsy little city. I am glad to read that it was way back then too.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40854)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Jul 17
@JamesHxstatic - I was delighted to read this 1916 article. What a fun town this has been for a very long time!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
4 Aug 17
lol Well I suspect that they would have been covered quite a lot more than today's beach goer!! lol
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
5 Aug 17
@DeborahDiane oh my, I rather think the Brazilian bottoms might cause quite a sensation lol
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40854)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Aug 17
@BelleStarr - Yes, the swimsuits in those days were pretty modest. Now we just tell tourists they can come in flip-flops. No telling what would happen if we told them they could come in swimsuits!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40854)
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jul 17
@jstory07 - I agree that swimwear was much more modest then than it is today. Still, this had to be one of the few churches in the world which allowed worshipers to come to church in their swimwear!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40854)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Jul 17
@Elizaby - Yes, casual summer attire has been an enjoyable part of our church for a long time. I wonder if there was a period, during the 1930s and 1940s, for example, when it became a bit more conservative.
@DeborahDiane (40854)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Jul 17
@dollaboy - So glad you enjoyed this article!
1 person likes this
