The San Francisco Center for Spiritual Living was established in 1954 and is located in the West Portal Neighborhood at 280 Claremont Blvd, between Dorchester Way and Ulloa St. Its building is small and from the outside appears nondescript, however the center is home to a thriving community. The San Francisco Center for Spiritual Living is affiliated with the Centers of Spiritual Living. Its main services are Sunday mornings: they offer both morning meditation and a larger service for all. The center focuses on teaching New Thought principles and philosophy, grounded in an understanding of the divine in each person.

St. Patrick Church, located in South of Mark district, is a Roman Catholic Church that was founded in 1851 to serve the Irish immigrant population. Its second building was built and opened in 1870 after a post-Civil War influx of people required more space. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed the old church, save the foundation and a few bits of low wall.  The current church was built in the Gothic revival style and features 32 stained-glass windows to represent each of Ireland’s counties. Additionally, the church was built using green Connemara marble. In 1968, it was declared a historic landmark. The church holds multiple daily masses, as well as confession twice a week. 

Congregation Emanu-El is one of the oldest Jewish communities in California. It was founded in 1850 and received its charter in 1851. Since its inception, the reform congregation has had a strong focus on social justice and outreach in the community. Julie Rosewald was the first female cantor in the United States in 1884. Today, they have ongoing advocacy work with homelessness, the criminal justice system, and refugee and immigrant populations. The synagogue is located at Lake St and Arguello Boulevard. The current building is the congregation’s third building. Arthur Brown Jr. designed it for them and the building is highly influenced by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. In 1927, American Institute of Architects named Temple Emanu-El the “finest piece of architecture in Northern California.”  The congregation is a central hub for the community and offered classes, events, and regular services for all ages and has over 2,100 households.

The Tin How Temple is located in Chinatown at 125 Waverly Place. The temple was founded in 1852 by Chinese immigrants and dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese Sea Goddess. Her title, Tin How, means Empress of Heaven. To reach the temple, you’ll have to climb stairs to the third floor. Hours of visitation are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and donations are accepted. No photography is allowed, however the balcony offers a beautiful view of San Francisco. The temple itself still is home to Taoist monks and houses numerous shrines to other deities. In the 1950s, the temple was closed temporarily for roughly 20 years. It reopened in 1975 and is one of the oldest Chinese temples that is still in operation today.