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When La Jolla was first established as a small seaside community in the late 19th century, it had an extraordinary number of churches considering its modest population of only about 200 inhabitants as the 20th century dawned. The first church to be built and offering services for various denominations was the Union Congregational erected in 1897 on the west side of Girard Avenue, near Wall Street, and destroyed by fire in 1915. (This building preceded the present-day Union Congregational at Ivanhoe and Cave Street designed by architect Carleton Winslow and dedicated in 1917.) Historian Carol Olten discusses the history and architecture of La Jolla churches as she leads tour-goers through landmark religious institutions such as Mary Star of the Sea and St. James By-the-Sea with a selection of stops including special guides through interiors by pastors and administrators. La Jolla churches – now numbering more than a dozen institutions with greatly expanded campuses that include schools, meeting halls and other social and cultural facilities – have played major roles in the community since early times and continue to do so today. They also continue to occupy some of the largest portions of La Jolla village real estate.