Upon its consecration in 1925 Saint Johns Episcopal Church in Los Angeles became one of the most beautiful and costly edifices in the country. The church is a stunning example of Italian neo-Romanesque architecture. Its design was inspired by the 11th-century church of San Pietro in Tuscania.
Saint Johns Episcopal Church wasn’t always this grand structure. Its story begins in 1890. A smaller neo-Gothic church was built then. The Los Angeles Times covered the groundbreaking ceremony. This original church was consecrated in 1894.
Growth soon outpaced the original building. By 1920 Saint Johns needed expansion. Brothers Pierpont and Walter Davis won a design competition. Their design mirrored San Pietro. The new church was a masterpiece. Its construction took two years and cost $650000. That’s over $9 million today.
The new Saint Johns Episcopal Church is magnificent. Its walls are two and a half feet thick. The ceilings are 69 feet high. They are wood-beamed reproductions. The altar is stunning Italian marble. The triptych was carved by skilled Oberammergau workmen.
The interior boasts incredible stained glass. One window features Martin Luther King Jr. Another is a striking Romanesque rose window. Gold mosaics adorn the chapel walls. They depict the Virgin Mary and Christ child. There is also a mosaic of Jesus as judge.
The Seven Angels mosaics were added in 1947. They are eight feet tall. Each angel holds a musical instrument. The mosaics were painstakingly created in Italy.
In the 1960s and 70s Reverend E Lawrence Carter led Saint Johns. He transformed it into a metropolitan church. It welcomed people of all races and economic backgrounds. He closed the church doors in 1970 to protest the Vietnam War. They remained closed for three years.
Saint Johns Episcopal Church has a rich history. It has served as both a parish church and a procathedral. It played a pivotal role in the community. It continues to be a place of worship and social action. Today it stands as a testament to faith and community. Its beauty and history endure in the heart of Los Angeles.