Old St. Peter's Episcopal Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old St. Peter's Episcopal Church |
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Old St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
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| Location | Harbor View Memorial Park (W. 24th St. & S. Grand Ave.), San Pedro, Los Angeles, California |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architectural style(s) | Carpenter Gothic—Victorian |
| Governing body | private |
| Designated | December 6, 1967 |
| Reference no. | 53 |
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Old St. Peter's Episcopal Church is a very old and special church in San Pedro, a part of Los Angeles, California. It's close to the Port of Los Angeles, a big harbor. Built in 1883, it's the oldest church in San Pedro. It was designed in a unique style called Carpenter Gothic, which is a type of Victorian architecture. Because it's so important, it's been named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.
Building the Church
Local people built St. Peter's in 1883. They used the same hand tools that were used to build ships. The first church service happened in April 1884. This was at its first spot on Beacon Street, on a place called Nob Hill.
The church was not very big, only about 21 feet wide and 60 feet long. Inside, it had 110 pews, which are long benches for people to sit on. The walls were plain white. There was also a special stand called a lectern. This lectern was held up by an angel carved from redwood. All the furniture and wood panels were made from redwood. This wood came from Northern California on sailing ships.
In 1968, the Los Angeles Times newspaper wrote about the church. They said it looked "like a dollhouse." But it also had "the rough-hewn charm of a 19th century ship."
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Moving the Church
For about 17 years, until 1900, the church was used by both Catholic and Protestant groups. Its tall steeple had a lantern that was lit at night. From its high spot on Nob Hill, it helped guide ships coming into the port.
In 1904, St. Peter's Church was moved. It went to Tenth and Mesa Streets in the Vinegar Hill area of San Pedro. During this move, the steeple fell off. It was replaced with a bell tower, which is still there today.
A New Purpose
By 1953, the church was too small for its growing congregation. A new, bigger St. Peter's Church was built. The old church was left empty and almost torn down.
But a group of local people wanted to save it. They convinced the city to take care of the church. They also promised to raise $5,000 to move it to Harbor View Memorial Park. They succeeded in raising the money. So, in September 1956, St. Peter's was moved to its new home.
The church was then given a new purpose. It became a memorial chapel. Today, it is open for special events like weddings and music concerts.
In October 2008, there were plans to move the church again. It was moved from Harbor View Cemetery to Green Hills Memorial Park. This park is in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The church has been restored, and its steeple has been put back. It now stands on the grounds of Green Hills Memorial Park.
See also
