St. Ambrose Episcopal Church was founded and organized in 1963 as a mission congregation of the Diocese of California. During the early years, the congregation gathered in homes, in a school, and in a warehouse. In 1968, St. Ambrose was put in suspension due to a lack of support from the diocese.
In 1974, the Bishop of the Diocese of California officially lifted the suspension and appointed a priest to serve as a missioner. The newly gathered congregation conducted worship services at Christ the Victor Lutheran Church and rented office space elsewhere.
In 1976, the congregation began to raise funds for their own property. The diocese purchased the current site on the corner of Edgewater and Beach Park Boulevards. A master plan was created, and in 1978, the first building was constructed as a multi-use building for Sunday Worship and the Sea Breeze Day School. The sanctuary and parish hall was constructed in 1981. Most of the materials, time, and labor were donated by church members.
Sea Breeze School grew and required more room. By 1985, four classrooms and a registrar’s office were completed. Now, over two hundred children are enrolled in preschool, transitional kindergarten, or afterschool programs. All enrolled children participate in chapel services.
In 1994, St. Ambrose Church became a parish of the diocese. Today, we average about 70 adults and children each Sunday between the two services. The congregation is a diverse assembly of families from all over the nation and the world. We continue to worship in the Episcopal and Anglican traditions.
The current Rector is the Rev. Rebecca Goldberg, Priest-In-Charge