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A United Methodist pastor, Darren Cowdrey has been the lead pastor at several congregations and has provided pastoral services for over 15 years. Currently, Darren Cowdrey serves at the Aldersgate Retreat Center, where he is working as an on-site pastor.
The Aldersgate Retreat Center was built as a private residence in 1892. In 1927, it was purchased by the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles and was used by church groups for banquets, debates, and retreats. The house was transported to its current location in 1928 by trucks and mule teams.
Today, the Aldersgate home is a beautiful retreat only a mile from the Pacific Ocean. The retreat welcomes over 3,000 guests each year and functions as a full-service retreat facility with ample meeting spaces and meal services. It’s owned and operated by the California-Pacific Annual Conference and is one of five facilities that are available through Camp and Retreat Ministries. It accommodates up to 42 individuals at a time, and there is a chapel on the grounds that seats 50.
