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St. Teresa of Avila Church (Bodega, California) facts for kids

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Saint Teresa of Avila Church
Saint Teresa of Avila Church, Bodega (2023)-L1003432.jpg
Saint Teresa of Avila Church
Location Bodega, California, United States
Built 1859
Governing body Roman Catholic
Reference no. 820

The Saint Teresa of Avila Church is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located in Bodega, California. This white, wooden church has a tall steeple and sits on a hill. From its spot, it looks out over Bodega Highway, a main road in the area.

The Church's Story

Building the Church

The Saint Teresa of Avila Church was built a long time ago, in 1860. It was constructed by skilled shipbuilders. The land for the church was given by a person named Jasper O’Farrell.

The church was named after St. Teresa of Avila. Local families from Spain and Portugal chose this name. On June 2, 1861, a special ceremony was held to dedicate the church. This was done by Archbishop Alemany.

A Landmark in History

When it was first built, the church was part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco. Today, it belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California. The church is recognized as a California Historical Landmark. This means it is an important historical place in California. It is also the oldest church in Sonoma County that has been used continuously since it was built.

Changes Over Time

In 1872, the church building was made bigger. Workers carefully cut the church in half and pulled the two parts apart. Then, they built new walls, a new ceiling, and added beautiful stained glass windows to fill the space.

Later, in 1886, a very heavy bell was added to the church's bell tower. This bell weighed 850 pounds! However, it was soon taken down because it was too heavy for the tower.

Inside the church, there is something unique. Most churches have one main aisle down the middle. But Saint Teresa of Avila Church has two aisles, one on each side, instead of a center one.

Featured in Art and Film

The church has also been part of famous art and movies. In 1953, a well-known photographer named Ansel Adams took a black and white picture of the church.

The church is right next to the Bodega schoolhouse. This schoolhouse was used as a setting in Alfred Hitchcock's famous 1963 movie, The Birds. The church itself can also be seen in the film. Alfred Hitchcock even attended church services there while he was filming.

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