St. Mary of the Angels Church, Hollywood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary of the Angels Church, Hollywood |
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| St. Mary of the Angels Anglo-Catholic Church, Hollywood, California | |
St. Mary of the Angels Church in 2015
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 St. Mary of the Angels Church, Hollywood
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
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| 34°06′27″N 118°17′16″W / 34.107420°N 118.287903°W | |
| Location | Hollywood, California |
| Country | United States of America |
| Denomination | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | stmaryshollywood.org |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St. Mary of the Angels Anglican Church; St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church |
| Founded | February 3, 1918 |
| Consecrated | February 3, 1918 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Hollywood Cultural Historical Landmark No. 136 |
| Designated | 1974 |
| Architect(s) | Carleton Winslow |
| Architectural type | Spanish Mission-style |
| Years built | 1929-1930 |
| Groundbreaking | 1929 |
| Completed | 1930 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of the West |
| Province | Anglican Church in America |
St. Mary of the Angels Church, often called "St. Mary's," is a special Anglo-Catholic church in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Hollywood, California. It's known for its unique history and beautiful design.
Contents
History of St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's was started by Reverend Neal Dodd. He was from Iowa but moved to Hollywood. There, he became a technical advisor and actor in early movies.
Because he was a priest who worked in films, people called him "The Padre of Hollywood." He was also known as "One Take Dodd" because he was so good!
The church first met in a small shop on N. Vermont Avenue. Later, they moved to New Hampshire Avenue. A Lutheran church stands there now. The old building was taken down to make room for the new one.
Architecture and Design
The first building St. Mary's used was a rented shop. It is still standing today. But the church soon moved. After raising about $1100 (which would be over $17,000 today), a small church was built quickly. It took only one week to build on New Hampshire Avenue.
The church building you see today was designed by a famous architect named Carleton Winslow. He planned it in 1929. The church was built in the Spanish Mission-style. This style uses elements from old Spanish missions.
The plans show lots of wood, like oak and birch. They also used special waterproof coatings. The roof has handmade mission tiles. Other materials like iron, steel, copper, and concrete were also used.
Decorative pieces called finials were once on top of the building. They were removed at some point. But in 2011, new ones were put back. A beautiful stained-glass window showing St. Genesius was added in 1988.
The Della Robbia Altarpiece
A special part of the church's design is a 16th-century artwork. It's called a terra cotta and porcelain altarpiece. It shows the Annunciation, which is a scene from the Bible. There are also statues of St. John and St. Francis.
This artwork, called a faience, was given to the church in the 1920s. It was donated by the founder of The Broadway and Bullocks department stores. It was a main feature when the church was on New Hampshire Avenue.
When the current church was built, the faience was first placed outside. It was in a small garden courtyard. Later, in the mid-1900s, it was moved inside.
Moving the faience was a huge job! It weighs over 15 tons. The church had to remove pews to make a temporary track. A crane was used to carry each piece. The church floor also had to be made stronger. The area behind the altar was changed to fit the artwork.
Music at St. Mary's
Music is a very important part of services at St. Mary's.
The Church Organ
The organ at St. Mary's has a long history. It was first built in 1906 for a home in Long Beach, California. Then it was sold to another home in Pasadena in 1912. In 1927, it was bought for a studio in Los Angeles.
Eventually, the organ was sold to St. Mary's Church. It was dedicated for use there. Church history says that the famous actor W.C. Fields helped pay for part of the organ.
The organ has two keyboards and 10 different sounds. It has special parts that help it make music.
Choirs and Music Performances
The choir at St. Mary's is called the St. Mary of the Angels Schola Cantorum. They sing at the main Sunday service. They also sing on important holidays like Christmas and Easter.
Their music often comes from hymnals, which are books of church songs. They also practice special songs called anthems.
Some of the famous pieces they have sung include:
- "I Was Glad" by C. Hubert H. Parry
- "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" by Johannes Brahms
- "Missa Brevis" by Palestrina
Church Services
St. Mary's has different types of church services, called "Masses."
High Mass vs. Low Mass
A "High Mass" has a lot of music and singing. This often includes Gregorian Chant. More people help the priest during a High Mass. They might use incense, which is a sweet-smelling smoke. A sermon, or talk, is almost always given. The main Sunday service at 10:00 AM is usually a Solemn High Mass.
A "Low Mass" is simpler. One priest leads it, often with one helper. The words are spoken, not sung. Incense is not used, and sermons are rare. The Sunday Low Mass is at 8:00 AM.
Famous People Connected to St. Mary's
Many famous people from Hollywood's early days were connected to St. Mary's. This includes actors, directors, and other important figures. Some of them are:
- Mary Pickford
- Charlie Chaplin
- Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
- Charlton Heston
- Anthony Quinn
- W.C. Fields
- Frank Capra
- Cecil B. deMille
- Al Jolson
- Myrna Loy
See also
- List of oldest church buildings
- Carleton Winslow
- Church architecture
- Church (building)
- List of the oldest churches in the United States
- List of Anglo-Catholic churches
Images for kids
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St. Mary of the Angels Church in 2015
