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St. Raymond Church
The Story of St. Raymond Church in Amboy, California
St. Raymond Church, Amboy, California, stands for a moment in time when the town was bustling up and down Route 66. It was built to serve the Catholic families that settled here, and its history speaks of the trials of small desert communities.
The church was dedicated on March 8, 1951, during Amboy's postwar heyday. Originally called St. Bridget's in 1950, it was renamed St. Raymond the following year. The church was designed to seat around 100 people, serving roughly 40 Catholic families whose livelihoods were tied to the railroad and local salt mines. The first priest, Rev. Patrick Malone, began holding daily Masses and Sunday services in a leased house before the church was completed.
Roy Crowl, a key figure in Amboy's development and owner of the iconic Roy's Motel and Cafe, donated the land for the church. Financial assistance came from the Catholic Extension Society in Chicago, allowing Rev. Leo Hanley to oversee its completion. Despite limited resources and persistent financial challenges, Hanley remained steadfast, even traveling to Chicago annually to raise funds. His determination was fueled by his commitment to the community, particularly the children who attended the church.
Over its nearly two decades of operation, St. Raymond Church became a spiritual anchor for the community and also oversaw the nearby St. Michael's Mission in Ludlow. However, financial difficulties persisted, and with Amboy's population dwindling, the church closed on August 3, 1970. In 1981, the property returned to Crowl.
The bypassing of Amboy by Interstate 40 in 1973 accelerated the town's decline, reducing it to a shadow of its former self. The church deteriorated along with the majority of the once-thriving little town of Amboy. In 2005, Albert Okura bought the town; he is the owner of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain and preserved the history of the church.
Inside the church once stood a mural of St. Raymond, said to have been painted by a former soldier who had trained in the desert with Gen. George Patton's unit. Though the artist remains unknown, the artwork represented the blending of faith and resilience that defined the church and its congregation.
St. Raymond Church is more than just a building; it is a manifestation of the faith and hard work of a small desert community that succeeded against the odds. Now closed, its history is an integral part of the story of Amboy, offering a glimpse into the town's lively past.
Route 66
