Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society facts for kids

The Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society is a special kind of church located in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, California. It's a place where people come together to learn and grow, following the ideas of Unitarian Universalism. You can find them holding services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 17622 Chatsworth Street.

This church used to have a very unique building in North Hills, which people called "the Onion." It was so special that it was named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2010.

The Story of the Sepulveda Unitarian Church

The Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society we know today started a long time ago, in 1943. Back then, it was called the United Liberal Church of the Valley. Over the years, its name changed a few times. It became the People's Church of the San Fernando Valley, and then in 1956, it was named the Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

Designing the Unique "Onion" Building

In the early 1960s, the church community grew, and they needed a bigger place to meet. They bought a five-acre ranch in North Hills. For the design of their new building, they chose Frank Ehrenthal. He was a Universalist, just like many church members, and a well-known architect of his time.

Ehrenthal spent time talking with and observing the church members. He noticed they wanted a place where everyone felt equal and connected. This gave him the idea for a round building where people could easily face each other.

The building, which became known as "the Onion," was finished in 1964. It was built using special glued laminated timber beams. These are strong wooden beams made by gluing together many layers of wood. The beams curve from the ground all the way up to the flat top of the roof. The entire building was covered with shingles, which were originally made of wood.