On July 27th, 1887, when Templeton was less than one year old, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethel Church, now called Bethel Lutheran, was organized by Dr. Jelleen of San Francisco with 20 charter members. The church building was completed in the fall of 1891, the church bell was added in 1906, and the stained glass windows were completed in 1986. This building is believed to be the oldest Lutheran church in Southern California in continuous use.