PUC was recognized as one of four "Breakthrough Congregations" in 2008,[1] reflected in a $75,000 donation to Community Church UU of New Orleans.

Pacific Unitarian Church was conceived in February 1957, by a group from the Palos Verdes-South Bay area of greater Los Angeles, under the guidance of the Rev.

March 17, 1957, the Pacific Unitarian Church Society was born at 11 a.m. in Walteria Park Recreation Building in Torrance, California.

The word "Society" was soon dropped from the title, and PUC settled into ministering to Unitarians, Universalists, and other religious liberals in the South Bay area.

Property upon which to build was purchased in Torrance, but sold when a more desirable site in Rancho Palos Verdes became available, where the facilities PUC occupies today were completed in 1965.

The first service at the current site was an impromptu memorial to President John F. Kennedy, held outdoors overlooking the canyon and the Beach cities.

His wife, Ruth, who through his years of service was an integral part of his ministerial success, died suddenly in 1987 shortly after they announced retirement plans.

Mr. W. Donald Beaudreault began his ministry to the PUC in January 1989, and served until the summer of 1993, when he tendered his resignation.

[citation needed] Pastor Joshua Berg was called as the new Settled Minister starting in September, 2024.

The following is a brief summary of social activism PUC supported through its storied history:[citation needed] Montrose Chemical Co. – letter writing, demonstration against dumping of tons of DDT off coast of Palos Verdes Peninsula.