Old St. Peter's Episcopal Church is a

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments are sites which have been designated by the Los Angeles, California, Cultural Heritage Commission as worthy of preservation based on architectural, historic and cultural criteria. History The Historic-Cult ...

located in the San Pedro section of

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, near the Port of Los Angeles. Built in 1883 in the

Carpenter Gothic Carpenter Gothic, also sometimes called Carpenter's Gothic or Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massing applied to wooden structures ...

Victorian architecture Victorian architecture is a series of architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. ''Victorian'' refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the styles known as Victorian we ...

style, it is San Pedro's oldest church.

History

Using the same hand tools that were used to build ships, local residents built St. Peter's in 1883. The first service was held in April 1884 at the original location on Beacon Street, between 2nd and 3rd Street, on what was then Nob Hill. The church was designed in the Carpenter Gothic style of Victorian architecture, and measured only 21 feet by 60 feet. It has 110 hand-hewn pews, plain white walls, and a lectern supported by an angel carved out of redwood. The furnishings and paneling were made of redwood brought from Northern California on sailing vessels. In a profile of the church published in 1968, the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...

'' described the old church as looking "like a dollhouse," but "with the rough-hewn charm of a 19th century ship." Until approximately 1900, the church was used for both Catholic and Protestant services. Its steeple was lighted at night with a lantern, and from its location on Nob Hill, it served as a beacon for ships approaching the port. In 1904, St. Peter's was moved to Tenth and Mesa Streets in the

Vinegar Hill Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace compounds that may include flavorings. Vinegar typically contains 5–8% acetic acid by volume. Usually, the acetic acid is produced by a double fermentation, converting simple sugars to ...

section of San Pedro. The steeple fell off in the move to Vinegar Hill and was replaced with a belfry the still exists.

Vacant

By 1953, the congregation had outgrown the small church, which had room for only 100 parishioners. A new St. Peter's was built, and the old church was left vacant and in danger of demolition. A group of local residents persuaded the city to accept and maintain the church, provided the group could raise $5,000 to move it to Harbor View Memorial Park. The fundraising effort succeeded, and St. Peter's was moved to its present location in September 1956. The church was deconsecrated and rededicated as a memorial chapel, which is open for special occasions, including weddings and music recitals. In October 2008, there are plans to move the church from Harbor View Cemetery in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, to Green Hills Memorial Park, in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, California.Church move in the works By Donna Littlejohn, Daily Breeze, 19 October 2008
/ref> Since the last information on this church was posted it has been moved once again and has been restored, including the steeple. It now stands on the grounds of Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

References

{{Authority control Churches in Los Angeles Episcopal church buildings in California Churches in San Pedro, Los Angeles Churches completed in 1883 19th-century Episcopal church buildings Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Carpenter Gothic church buildings in California Victorian architecture in California

History

Vacant

See also

References