Our Lady of the Wayside Church

Our Lady of the Wayside Church is a Spanish Colonial Revival church in Portola Valley featuring steel-reinforced concrete construction with stucco finish, round-arched windows, and buttressed walls. The roof is covered in tiles and displays exposed rafter ends as a defining architectural detail.

Timothy L. Pflueger designed this church at age 19 in 1912 as his first architectural project while working as a draftsman at Miller's firm. The building arose from a unique partnership between members of different faiths who wanted to express their shared values through a house of prayer.

The church emerged from collaboration between Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic members of The Family, a San Francisco men's club with a nearby retreat. This diverse founding is reflected in how the space welcomes people from different faith backgrounds.

The building is located on Portola Road and can be visited to admire the architecture or to attend regular services. Visitors should remember that it is an active house of worship for the community and should be entered respectfully.

After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused extensive damage, the building faced demolition threats. The congregation responded with a determined fundraising effort to save it and ensure it would survive for future generations.

Location: Portola Valley

Inception: 1912

Architects: Timothy L. Pflueger

Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 37.38383,-122.23386

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:01