Hillside EV Free
Hillside Evangelical Free Church had its humble beginnings in a fruit shed on Lincoln Avenue. A hand full of people started meeting in the San Jose Salvation Army Hall, but when the Salvation Army needed the room, the Fellowship moved to the fruit shed in early 1953. The Evangelical Free Church of San Jose was organized on February 18, 1953, with 23 charter members.
When the owner required use of the fruit shed during harvest season, the church rented space and moved to a Seventh Day Adventist church on Minnesota Avenue. During this time, a lot was purchased and a temporary Sanctuary and Sunday School wing were erected at 2116 Newport Avenue. Our first worship service was held at this location on March 28, 1954. A Sanctuary was erected at this site a few years later.
As growth occurred, we purchased property at our current location at 545 Hillsdale Avenue. An Education Wing and a multi-purpose sanctuary were built at this location and we moved in on October 7, 1977. Our present sanctuary was dedicated on September 27, 1987. During the 1989 earthquake, we suffered some damage, but 6 months later, we were back in our sanctuary.