Is it possible for a single stained-glass window to tell a story of faith, community, and remembrance? Here at Moanalua Gardens Missionary Church, it does. This church is more than just a building. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of the community.
Moanalua Gardens Missionary Church started as a chapel for sailors during World War II. It was a place of solace and community for military personnel and their families. In those early days from 1941 through 1945, the congregation gathered in a WWII Navy chapel. It was located in the Pearl Harbor Housing Area 1, later known as Hale Moku.
Officially organized on April 28, 1946, the church council consisted of twenty-five members. They created a commemorative scroll. A Navy chaplain was appointed as pastor. About 250 people attended the dedication service. It was held in a large Quonset hut. There were also 200 children attending Sunday school.
In 1948, the church changed its name to Pearl Harbor Community Church. The congregation was made up of military families. They came from the nearby Pearl Harbor Naval Base. Families also came from the Marine, Army, and Air Force installations. Civilians employed at these installations also attended. The church served five major Protestant denominations. It was the only Protestant church in the Pearl Harbor area.
By the 1950s, the community had grown significantly. Approximately 15,000 people resided in the area. This included over 4,000 military families.
In 1954, Rear Admiral CE Olsen called it the Pearl Harbor Memorial Church. WM Adams suggested the name Pearl Harbor Memorial Community Church. It was in honor of those who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
A significant milestone was reached on January 2, 1957. A lease was signed for a 3-acre lot. It was located in the Moanalua Area. This land was adjacent to the newly constructed Moanalua Shopping Center. An official groundbreaking ceremony occurred on October 27, 1957. This marked the beginning of the church’s construction.
The first service in the church was held on July 20, 1958. The stained-glass window was not yet in place at that time. The church held a dedication ceremony on August 24, 1958, after the stained-glass window was installed. On September 3, 1958, a “time capsule” was sealed at the front entrance.
The centerpiece of Moanalua Gardens Missionary Church is its stained-glass window. It covers one whole wall of the A-frame building. It is the “largest connected stained-glass window in Hawai’i”. It is also one of the largest stained glass panels in the United States.
John Wallis designed the unique stained glass window in 1957. He was formerly of the Wallis-Wiley Studio in Pasadena, California. Wallis incorporated ideas from the 1950s congregation into his design. The window depicts people from various cultures. They surround a large figure of Christ. The quotation says “For You Are All One in Christ Jesus.”
Wallis described his creation. He said, “The central feature of this window is a majestic figure of Christ. He is drawing unto Himself people of all nations.” The window includes landscapes, streams, oceans, and different forms of architecture. At Christ’s feet is the Anchor. It is a Christian symbol representing Christ as the “anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”
The window also features a map of Pearl Harbor. Aircraft and ships depict battles from the Revolutionary War to World War II. Military insignia are included. Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Confucian symbols are also present.
An article in the Honolulu Advertiser in 1959 described the window. It is a tribute to the men and women of the military. They defended American freedom in times of national emergency. The stained glass consists of 140 separate sections. Each section contains 12 to 20 individual pieces of hand-painted glass. The entire A-frame front consists of the stained glass wall panel. It also includes the double entrance doors.
Moanalua Gardens Missionary Church is a church that exists to glorify God. It aims to experience His love and transform the world. The church is on a mission to see the Kingdom of God established on earth. It strives to be not just a church in the community, but a church of the community.