Our Lady of Sorrows Church (Santa Barbara, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Sorrows Church |
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| Location | 21 East Sola Street, Santa Barbara, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | July 29, 1855 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Designated landmark of the City of Santa Barbara |
| Designated | May 17, 2016 |
| Architect(s) | Edward Eames |
| Architectural type | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Style | Spanish Romanesque architecture |
| Completed | 1929 |
Our Lady of Sorrows Church (which means Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in Spanish) is a Catholic church located in Santa Barbara, California. This beautiful church was built in 1929. It is a very important building in the city. On May 17, 2016, it was officially named a special landmark of Santa Barbara. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
The story of Our Lady of Sorrows Church began a long time ago, in 1782. It started as a small chapel. This chapel was part of the Presidio of Santa Barbara. A presidio was like a fort built by the Spanish. It helped protect the Spanish settlements in California.
The first chapel was built for the Spanish soldiers. It was founded by Father Junípero Serra. He was a very important priest. Father Serra held the first Mass, which is a church service, in Santa Barbara. He also provided many things for the chapel. These included furniture, altar pieces, and even a library.
Building the First Church
On July 29, 1855, the very first church building was officially opened. It was located at the corner of State Street and Figueroa Street. Students from a nearby school, called the Apostolic College of Our Lady of Sorrows, helped build it. Sadly, this first church building was destroyed by a fire in August 1865.
A New Church and Bells
A new church was built to replace the one that burned down. It was finished in May 1867. This new church was built in the same area as the first one. In 1904, two new bell towers were added to the church. These towers held three large bells. The bells weighed about 2,200 pounds, 1,250 pounds, and 650 pounds. They were blessed on July 17 of that year.
Changes and Challenges
Around 1908, the church's management changed. It was then looked after by the Jesuit Fathers. The Jesuits are a group of Catholic priests.
A big challenge came on June 29, 1925. A strong earthquake hit Santa Barbara. It had a magnitude of 6.8. The earthquake caused a lot of damage to the church. The front of the church, one whole side, and one of the bell towers were destroyed. The other bell tower was also badly damaged.
Because of the damage, a new location was chosen for the church. This is where the church stands today. It is on the corner of East Sola Street and Anacapa Street. It is also across from Alameda Park.
On June 30, 2014, another change happened. The church's management was passed to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Images for kids
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Southern transept of the church
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Tower
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Southern side elevation
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Oblique view of the southern side elevation
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Plaque of the cornerstone
