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Church In the Forest

4.7 (7 reviews)

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Emily C.

Had my wedding ceremony here and it is jawdroppingly gorgeous! My husband and I ran into a planning snafu in our wedding and needed a new venue STAT. Church in the Forest came through for us with bells on. Kay Gameiro is their wedding coordinator and she swiftly got us on the calendar and made the transition smooth in a VERY hectic and stressful planning process. I absolutely adore Pastor Bill and his witty yet practical wedding sermon. He made us feel like absolute gems and made sure the ceremony ran as smooth as silk. His wife Paula was the church's day of coordinator and she did a splendid job getting me to my bridal suite and ready for my trip to the altar. And did I mention the price is VERY REASONABLE??? That is just one of many reasons why I would highly recommend this church as a wedding venue. Five stars doesn't even begin to cover it.

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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15 years ago

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11 years ago

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17 years ago

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11 years ago

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Carmel Mission Basilica - Our Lady of Bethlehem - the oldest Mary statue in CA; carved in 15-century Spain. It arrived here from Mexico in 1769 with St. Junipero

Carmel Mission Basilica

(214 reviews)

So grateful to been able to attend Sunday Mass. Basilica is so beautiful and it has so much…read morehistory and also they have free museum and a small shop. Sunday mass is full but the have lots of extra chairs in the back outside the church. Parking could be crowded so get there early.

I have been visiting the California missions throughout my life. Usually it is a positive…read moreexperience. However, I recently revisited the Carmel Basilica on a Sunday, and like other visitors I was totally put off by the commercialization of this particular church/historical monument. There are a few security guards who stand out front and a ticket booth positioned in a way that you cannot enter the church without paying first. The mission is not open everyday which is odd since it is such a beloved place visited by people around the world. The price of admission is 15.00 per person, five dollars higher per person than other missions which are also open everyday. This is quite pricey. If you arrive during mass you may not enter to look around until after mass! It seems really against the whole concept of all are welcome. Lighting one candle is 5.00! Usually it is just a donation or a dollar or two. The parking lot is small and congested. Personally, I enjoyed San Juan Bautista, which is close to Monterey and Carmel, much better. Friendlier, less expensive and open to all everyday! The setting is beautiful as well, surrounded by fields and beautiful gardens. I highly recommend history buffs stop by San Juan Bautista and other smaller missions.

Presbyterian Church Carmel

Presbyterian Church Carmel

(5 reviews)

I guess for some reason I was thinking and hoping to be in a mainline Presbyterian church like…read morePCUSA or PCA or something. But to my surprise I was not, and this is an ECO Church, which is really quite different. You can see it and hear it. The main minister is not robed in clerical robe or vestment neither is the Associate. It is very free feeling, almost as if I am in a non-denominational or Baptist church in a sense. I would not know this would be Presbyterian as I know it in the mainline sense. I come from a traditional high church Presbyterian PCUSA background with links to the Church of Scotland. I can see its Reformed in belief but has other influences. For me when looking for a Presbyterian church when out of town, I need something more structured, traditional and liturgical and Presbyterian. I can tell they are great people that love God and all, no doubt. I am sure a great home and place of visitation for many. I enjoyed hearing the service. Not sure this would be a place I would come to. I think I would stick more to another PCUSA or even UMC church either in Monterey or Carmel. That said, I do believe this most certainly can be a place for someone that would like more of a non-denominational or community style of worship and preaching.

We decided to hold mom's second memorial service here. Peg and Lily did an amazing job making sure…read morebrother, dad and I were comfortable. They recommended a florist who did a gorgeous white rose bouquet, and they also helped us with the program. Peg held her ground at the entrance and made sure everyone got a program and was properly greeted. Although mom only went here for a little bit, they made us feel so welcome and if we had been a part of the Church for years. The church itself is stunning. They have two Flat screen TVs and an LCD projector, full wiring-- it is one of the most high tech churches I have entered. What caught my eyes were the window panes. The glass shone and sparkled as the bells rung... I briefly got lost in a moment. The pastor here lived in Brazil for quite some time. He as well as the church speaks to the international relationships developed amongst several countries. Who knew a little church in Carmel would have connections in Asia, Africa and all over Central America. They also from what I hear have a strong youth group. Being of non faith I am always anxious when it comes to doing these types of services... I was put to ease. The member also put together a nice reception after the service. I highly recommend this place for a wedding or a service. Thank you all for being a part of our healing process.

Shoreline Church - Volunteers help load groceries at our food pantry.

Shoreline Church

(56 reviews)

Shoreline has been my church home for 30 years. It's the perfect place for people who want to grow…read morein their faith, but also very welcoming to people who may just be seeking. The message is delivered in a way that is easily understandable. For me, I hear it as a practical application to my daily life. The pastors and staff make it a very friendly non-judge mental environment. From the minute you walk in you feel welcome. Shoreline is a large church but has many different Bible studies and events to get involved in. This is a great way to stay more connected through Shoreline. It's also a way to meet people who are of the same mindset and are wanting to enrich their relationship with Jesus. Besides helping me to grow in my faith, I have established lifelong friendships as a result of attending Shoreline. Nina Arman

From the outside, the church looks good. They give you donuts, coffee, and a good worship team…read more There are some good folks at this church who truly love Jesus. The church is a business and ran like any other mega-church business. I've been going to Shoreline off and on for the last three years. They have all the bells and whistles and look shiny and pretty from the outside. If you're looking for connection and support of a smaller church you won't find it here. Some of the events such as the children's program in the summer are not accessible to all kids. There are no scholarships and programs available for those less privileged to have access to the program as other privileged kids. I don't feel the church is inclusive of marginalized minorities to have the ability to resources as the privileged kids and think the church can do better here. There is no support for BIPOC kids who don't have the means to attend. These kids are excluded from the community and the pews. Also, there is no benevolence fund to help members who are suffering or in need. They have a food bank and give out clothes and nothing more for those in need who are sitting in the pews. There is no support structure in place for folks struggling in the pews and no acknowledgment from the church. Support does not always mean money and they want the tithe but you are not seen or heard as a member who is suffering. The more mega the less help you can expect from them. A church of 10 will go to the ends of the earth to help you. In a church of a thousand maybe someone will bring you a casserole. Which isn't surprising. There's less of a community in a more mega church. You're just a number. A church is a community and a community should help any members who are in distress - whether this be through formal existing "emergency funds" or through informal support from other members within the organization. If someone is in that sort of situation. The church should absolutely help provide for the needs of the member. It should have nothing to do with how much the member has given in the past. So in a nutshell you decide if this is a church you want to invest your time, money, soul, and heart into.

Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo

Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo

(24 reviews)

My review is not for the active San Carlos Cathedral church services. Instead it's for the Royal…read morePresidio Chapel historic federal landmark. They are both the same building. Currently the San Carlos Cathedral Catholic Church uses the Presidio Chapel. When services are not occurring, visitors can explore the interior and outside facade. There is no charge to walk about, it's free. The present sandstone chapel construction was completed in 1795. The native Americans labors built the chapel. The Monterey Presidio was founded in 1770 as the second of four Spanish Presidios. At that time, the presidio's chapel served for the Spanish soldiers and dignitaries. It's the oldest stone building in California. When walking about the exterior of the chapel take note of the marked lines to the right of the building. Those lines indicate chapel construction (where, what, and when). The current building is shaped as a cross. Directly in the back there is a plaque memorializing where the Oak tree stood in 1770 where Father Junipero Serra broke ground for the chapel construction. The tree was removed in 1905 when it was damaged. But the tree holds important place in Monterey history. In 1602, it is said that Spanish explorer Vizcaíno followed the creek from the Bay and noticed this majestic oak tree. Under that tree he and with the friars, traveling in his expedition, held Mass under the tree and claimed the area for Spain. Father Serra followed Vizcaino's directions to the site in 1770 to establish a mission and presidio. But a year or two later he decided to build the mission in Carmel instead. But the presidio continued with building the chapel. Pieces of the grand tree have been preserved and are located in various local museums. Now let's talk about out the interior. The church doors are left open during the day welcoming all inside. Inside there are paintings and statues including are originals such as the Stations of the Cross, St John, Sorrowful Mother, and Spanish Madonna. As you enter the church, look up and the exterior and take notice of the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue; it's still the original making it the oldest non-indigenous statue in California. Also throwing it out there that there are cameras all over and everything is monitored. So don't be a doofus. Just enjoy and soak in the history.

Amazing service. Recommend this church when visiting or making it your own parish. Very friendly…read moreand inviting.

Mission San Carlos Borromeo

Mission San Carlos Borromeo

(3 reviews)

This mission is one of my favorites in the state. Whether you're Catholic or not, I highly suggest…read morevisiting this gorgeous historic landmark. From the meticulously restored church to the lush gardens and open plaza, there's so much to see and enjoy here. One thing to note is that the gift shop can be very crowded. There's not a lot of space in there to begin with and it can be hard to shop if there are a lot of visitors. Plus, the gift shop is also the entrance to the paid museum. If you have some time to spare, I suggest going through the museum to see some pretty cool historic artifacts. There's also an old garden shed in front of the church that has been converted into a small museum space with a room where a documentary plays. I don't think you have to pay to access this part of the property. Parking can be an issue so be prepared to circle the neighborhood for parking if the front and back lots are full.

I had this on my "must see" list while in Carmel and was excited to visit but was disappointed…read more Though I respect the history and the church we were out of there in 20 minutes. There really is nothing much to see. There is a miniscule "museum" with a few tiny displays, a small cemetery with no information/explanation etc. At $9.50 it was to much to charge for admission. I did find it cute though to see the kids in class while we were there (during the week) This is still an active Parish.

Church In the Forest - venues - Updated May 2026

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