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1902  The Carmel Mission was in ruins and not being used as a place of worship. Residents of Carmel had to travel by horse and buggy, or even walk over the hill to the Methodist Camp ground in Pacific Grove, or Monterey to attend church services. A small group of people started meeting under a pine tree on Dolores Street and Ocean Avenue, and became the nucleus of the first Protestant Church in Carmel. When it rained, they met in a barn at San Carlos Street near Sixth Avenue.

1904  J.F. Devendorf, Superintendent of Carmel Development Company, and E.A. Arne, originated the idea that a church should be built. Mr. Arne raised $400. Mr. Devendorf gave two lots on Lincoln Street between Ocean and Seventh Avenue (Valued at $500). With an added donation of $300 from the Church Extension Society of the Methodist Church, the first church was opened debt free. On November 4, the church was incorporated as the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Carmel. 1926  The first alteration of the church building was completed. A room at the back of the chapel housed Sunday school classes, and space for serving dinners and other social activities was added. A small kitchen was furnished, and pews added to the chapel.  1930  The new parsonage, located at Eleventh Avenue and Lincoln Street was acquired.  1939-1940  The original church building had now become inadequate in space and appearance, and with the weakening of the structure itself, a new building was planned. The change was radical. Architecturally, it belongs to no period - it belongs to Carmel. Robert L. Stanton, the architect, designed a building with the growing character of the area in mind. Carmel-by-the-Sea had many artists and artisans among its residents, and its feeling of exclusiveness was beginning to be felt. With this in mind, Mr. Stanton designed the new chapel with an exterior consistent with the “Carmel Style”.  The same front elevation survives today. Brick walls and terraces, a provincial bell tower, stylized plaster walls and an antique tiled roof all created the feeling of rural simplicity. The interior of the chapel included Italian 18th century hand carved walnut wainscoting paneling. This beautiful paneling was originally in the Castle of Nerni, which belonged to the Princess of Bourbon. From there it had been taken to Villa Monapisana near Luc, Italy, where the princes sold it at auction. It was brought to this country by Alice P. Millard of Pasadena, and purchased by Robert Stanton from her estate. The steeple, the first one in Carmel, housed the “The Bell”, which had been presented by an anonymous group known as “The Villagers”. It is still in use, and in earlier days served Carmel for fire and emergency calls. The first service in these facilities was held on March 3, 1940.  On August 18, 1940, the name “Church of the Wayfarer” was adopted by the membership. Dr. Crowther, had suggested the name based on a script and musical arrangement he had written in 1919 for a great religious drama/pageant, "The Wayfarer". He recognized that the Carmel congregation was made up of sojourners from all parts of the country and that Christians are traditionally Wayfarers along the way. The stone cross and bench, at the front of the chapel, is carved with the phrase, “Rest and Be Thankful”. The phrase is borrowed from another rough stone bench, which was located at the summit of a pass between Loch Long and Loch Fyne in Scotland. It referred to the long, rough, ascent from Arrochar through the wild Glen Croe hill. The Prie-dieu, which is used during weddings, was designed and carved by Ivor Prosser, a skilled Carmel craftsman. The petit point, on the kneeler, was designed and made by Mrs. H.J. Danelz. Philadelphia friends of Dr. and Mrs. Crowther gave the beautiful cross on the altar.  1952  A funding campaign raised $80,000, and all of the original buildings were razed and a two-story youth building, including an up-to-date kitchen, large fellowship hall, Sunday school rooms, and an education office were added.  1956  Once more, space was becoming a problem, so the present structure was designed. The altar section was removed and rebuilt to new dimensions. The building was extended to the back of the lot, and an electrically operated wood paneled wall was installed between the sanctuary and the newly added “Garden Room” to accommodate overflow congregations. The choir loft, with space for a pipe organ, was built into the rear of the sanctuary. There was enough 18th century walnut paneling stored in the attic to complete the new structure. The building extended to the youth building, and the two became one, along with the addition of a pastor’s study, library, and secretary’s office. During the time of rebuilding the sanctuary, Sunday services were held in the Golden Bough Theater on Monte Verde Street. On April 15, the first worship service was held in the present sanctuary. At that time, Geza St. Galy, a prominent artist, presented the ceramic mosaic, Flight Into Egypt, which is now on the church porch.  1981  After many years of fund raising, stained glass windows were designed and installed by Connick Studios, of Boston, MA. Connick Studios is known for the finest quality leaded glass in the French Cathedral style. Their windows are also found in Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.  1986  The offices were redesigned to become the present Pearl Pike Library, named after the church’s dedicated secretary. An upstairs Kitchen was added, and the little downstairs chapel became a pre-school.  1991  The present 32 rank Schoestein & Company pipe organ was custom built and installed. It is one of the largest pipe organs currently on the Monterey Peninsula.