Can you hear the echoes of hammers and chisels? They shaped a dream into the St. Luke’s of the Mountains Church. This isn’t just a church. It’s a testament to community spirit and artistic vision.
In 1923, artist Seymour Thomas envisioned St. Luke’s of the Mountains. He imagined a church built from the very stones of the Crescenta Valley. It would mirror the area’s diverse and rocky landscape. Thomas’s painting became the blueprint. People gathered stones. Men, women, and children all helped. Their collective effort transformed the vision into reality.
Just a few years later, St. Luke’s of the Mountains opened its doors. It welcomed everyone. The church quickly became an iconic spiritual home. St. Luke’s was admitted as a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles in 1931. By 1949, the congregation had outgrown its space. A larger worship area and parish hall were needed. Thomas once again painted a vision. Again, stones were gathered.
By the 1950s, St. Luke’s acquired an adjacent old county fire station. It later became The Fire House youth center. St. Luke’s doors remained open. They welcomed all seeking spiritual solace. The church offered contemplation amidst a changing world.
Dark times fell upon St. Luke’s in the new millennium. In 2003, a priest took the pulpit with divisive views. Those who differed were not welcome. The doors began to shut. St. Luke’s no longer reflected its community. The priest tried to claim illegitimate ownership. He severed ties with the Episcopal community.
It took six years for the Episcopal Diocese to reclaim St. Luke’s. In November 2009, St. Luke’s became a mission. Reverend Bryan Jones committed the church to inclusivity. Once again, the church thrived.
Ten miles east, another church struggled. Church of the Ascension in Sunland-Tujunga faced dwindling numbers. They needed a new home. St. Luke’s opened its doors.
In 2012, Reverend Jorge Pallares and Ascension’s parishioners joined St. Luke’s. They formed the core of the Spanish-language service. The two congregations united.
Today St. Luke’s deepens its community bonds. The Fire House youth center offers a safe haven. The Gooden Center provides a home for women in recovery. St. Luke’s meets the challenges ahead.
St. Luke’s of the Mountains celebrated its 100th anniversary in April 2024. The architecture of St. Luke’s is unique. Stones from the Angeles National Forest form the foundation. The church is made from the bedrock of the Crescenta Valley.
Remember St. Luke’s of the Mountains. It is more than stones and mortar. It is a story of community. It is a story of love and resilience. It is a place for all.