St. John's Cathedral (Los Angeles) Explained

Location:University Park, Los Angeles
Address:514 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
Denomination:Anglican (The Episcopal Church)
Saint John's Cathedral
Fullname:Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral
Other Name:Catedral Episcopal San Juan聖約翰大教堂세인트 존 성공회 대성당
Associations:PGBM/Union of Black Episcopalians, GLEAM, PGHM EDLA, GAAPI, USC
Tradition:Central churchmanship
Churchmanship:Liberal Anglo-Catholicism andBroad church
Membership:190-230(est.)
Website:www.stjohnsla.org
Former Name:Saint John's Church, St. John's Pro-Cathedral
Past Bishop:Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno
Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce.
Status:Active
Functional Status:Cathedral
Previous Cathedrals:St Pauls Cathedral(demolished)
Deanery:Deanery 4 – El Centro
Metropolis:Greater Los Angeles
Diocese:Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Province:Province 8 of the Episcopal Church
Bishop:The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor
Auxiliary Bishop:Franklin Brookhart
Rector:None
Dean:The Very Rev. Anne Sawyer (Interim)
Canon:Can. Earl Mounger
Can. Lurelean Gaines
Can. Karen Uhler
Priestincharge:Anne Sawyer
Priest:Rev. Melvin Soriano
Asstpriest:Rev. Lyn Crow
Nonstipendiaryminister:Rev. Dr. Glenn M. Libby (ret.)Rev. Lee Walker (ret.)
Chaplain:Melvin Soriano, USC Canterbury Chaplain
Deacon:Rev. Margaret McCauley
Organist:Dr. Zach Neufeld
Treasurer:Jason Malone
Warden:Can. Lurelean Gaines (Senior) & Arnie Ree (Junior)
Verger:3 as Masters of Ceremonies
Liturgycoord:Varies
Flowerguild:Martha Ree
Musicgroup:Dr. Christopher Gravis, Canon for Music Ministry and Cathedral Arts
Parishadmin:Kyle Black, Canon for Parish Administration
Serversguild:Felicia Gaddis, Heyden Morales & Rob MacPherson
Sacristan:Heyden Morales & Sobhan Nouri
Language(S):Primarily English, readings might be performed in Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.
St. John's Cathedral
Location:514 W. Adams Blvd
Los Angeles, California
Coordinates:34.0272°N -118.2747°W
Built:1925
Architect:Davis, Walter and Pierpont; Hanson, Luis
Architecture:Romanesque Revival
Added:May 5, 2000
Refnum:00000425
Designated Other1:LAHCM
Designated Other1 Date:January 22, 1991[1]
Designated Other1 Number:516

St. John's Cathedral is an Episcopal church near downtown Los Angeles that serves as both a parish church and the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, an area covering five and a half counties. Though St. John's was formed in 1890, the current Romanesque Revival architectural style church was built in 1925. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Early history

St. John's was founded in 1890. The Los Angeles Times reported on the groundbreaking ceremony in a front-page story:

Quite a large number of interested people assembled on foot and in carriages at the corner of Figueroa and Adams streets, at 4 p.m. yesterday, to witness the laying of the corner-stone of St. John's Episcopal Church. The clergy, in their vestments, preceded by the vestry of the parish, came on the grounds in procession, opening the service as they approached the building site. ... St. John's is to be a tasteful Gothic structure of brick, with stone facings, and wood, capable of seating 150 people. It is placed on the lot as to admit of the erection of a larger structure in the near future.[2]
The original neo-Gothic church was consecrated in June 1894.[3]

George Davidson

In 1913, George Davidson became rector of St. John's, a position he held until 1951. Davidson led the church during a period of growth, as membership rose from 400 to 2,300. He was also a member of the faculty at USC for 14 years, served as president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and was one of the first organizers of the city's Community Chest drives.[4] When Davidson retired in 1951 at age 71, more than 1,000 people attended his final service at St. John's. At the time, he said, "In all humility, I express my gratitude. My prayers are for St. John's and may His blessing be upon all its loyal members who have raised its standard high. ... The joys and sorrows, the achievements and failures, the happiness and loneliness of many people during the years have been so woven into the fabric of my life that it is difficult for me to express adequately the mingling feelings of my heart in this solemn hour."[5] Davidson died in July 1967 in Los Angeles.[6]

Lawrence Carter's "metropolitan church"

From 1958 to 1974, the Rev. E. Lawrence Carter was the rector of St. John's. During his tenure, the surrounding area changed from one of white affluence to racially mixed poverty. "Carter led the church in changing with it, moving from an upper-level parish church controlled by businessmen to what he termed a metropolitan church welcoming leaders of many races and economic backgrounds."[11] In 1973, Carter recalled: "There never was a mass exodus, a confrontation, nothing like that. Just a slow ebbing, a dilution socially, economically, racially."[11] He described his concept of a "metropolitan church" as the need for an urban church "to do the social bit".[11] He noted that "Mainline churches cannot be the church unless they pay attention to the community where they are. The church must be involved in all the areas of life."[11] During his time as rector, Carter founded the St. John's Well Child Center and also worked to aid the homeless.[11]

Rectors

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Department of City Planning . Designated Historic-Cultural Monuments . City of Los Angeles . 2010-06-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100609160708/http://www.preservation.lacity.org/monuments . 2010-06-09 .
  2. News: St. John's Church: Laying of the Corner Stone of the New Edifice Yesterday. Los Angeles Times. 1890-09-24. subscription. https://archive.today/20130201053911/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/318313802.html?dids=318313802:318313802&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+24,+1890&author=&pub=The+Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=ST.+JOHN'S+CHURCH.. dead. February 1, 2013.
  3. News: St. John's Church: It Is Consecrated by Bishop Nichols; Assisted by Dean Restarick and the Episcopal Clergy; Impressive Services with a Special Musical Programme; The Ceremony Witnessed by a Congregation that Filled the Sacred Edifice to the Doors -- Beautiful Floral Decorations. Los Angeles Times. 1894-06-11. subscription. https://archive.today/20130201000608/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/323505072.html?dids=323505072:323505072&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+11,+1894&author=&pub=The+Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=ST.+JOHN'S+CHURCH.. dead. February 1, 2013.
  4. News: Rev. Davidson Will Retire Oct. 1. Los Angeles Times. 1951-09-03. subscription. https://archive.today/20130131204409/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/425188231.html?dids=425188231:425188231&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+3,+1951&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=REV.+DAVIDSON+WILL+RETIRE+OCT.+1. dead. January 31, 2013.
  5. News: Dr. Davidson in St. John's Farewell After 38 Years: Recalling Fond Relationships of Past, Rector Expresses Gratitude to Church Congregation. Los Angeles Times. 1951-10-01. subscription. https://archive.today/20130201015641/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/425285111.html?dids=425285111:425285111&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+1,+1951&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=Dr.+Davidson+in+St.+John's+Farewell+After+38+Years. dead. February 1, 2013.
  6. News: Dr. Davidson; Church Rector for 38 Years. Los Angeles Times. 1967-07-19. subscription. https://archive.today/20130131145759/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/511951062.html?dids=511951062:511951062&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+19,+1967&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=Dr.+Davidson;+Church+Rector+for+38+Years. dead. January 31, 2013.
  7. News: Alma Whitaker. Bids Farewell to Old Edifice: Final Worship in Episcopal Church Yesterday; Devotion Marked by Added Charm of Memories. Los Angeles Times. 1924-12-15. subscription. https://archive.today/20130201053911/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/318313802.html?dids=318313802:318313802&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+24,+1890&author=&pub=The+Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=ST.+JOHN'S+CHURCH.. dead. February 1, 2013.
  8. News: Newest Church Consecrated: Episcopalians Hold Service in Beautiful Edifice; Choir of Sixty Voices Sings at St. John's Opening; Building Result of Efforts of Dr. George Davidson. Los Angeles Times. 1922-12-22. subscription. https://archive.today/20130201063341/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/358057972.html?dids=358057972:358057972&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+22,+1924&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=NEWEST+CHURCH+IS+CONSECRATED. dead. February 1, 2013.
  9. News: Church to be Blessed Today: New Mexico Bishop to Conduct Rites at St. John's; Building is Done in Sixth Century Italian; Has Chapel Dedicated to the World War Veterans. Los Angeles Times. 1925-02-03. subscription. https://archive.today/20130201091451/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/394332721.html?dids=394332721:394332721&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Feb+3,+1925&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=CHURCH+TO+BE+BLESSED+TODAY. dead. February 1, 2013.
  10. News: Church Mosaic to Be Dedicated. Los Angeles Times. 1947-03-23. https://archive.today/20130131173543/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/419644091.html?dids=419644091:419644091&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+23,+1947&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=Church+Mosaic+to+Be+Dedicated. dead. January 31, 2013. subscription.
  11. News: Oliver. Myrna. Rev. E.L. Carter; Episcopalian Leader, Activist. July 29, 2017. Los Angeles Times. June 21, 1997.
  12. News: Dan L. . Thrapp. Church Reopens Doors Which It Closed to Protest Viet War. Los Angeles Times. 1973-04-02. https://archive.today/20130201015449/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/604131622.html?dids=604131622:604131622&FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+2,+1973&author=DAN+L+THRAPP&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=Church+Reopens+Doors+Which+It+Closed+to+Protest+Viet+War. dead. February 1, 2013. subscription.
  13. News: McCaughan. Pat. LOS ANGELES: St. John's Church named as cathedral for diocese. July 29, 2017. Episcopal News Service. The Episcopal Church. November 14, 2007. en.
  14. News: Rev. Persell to Assume Post. Los Angeles Times. 1974-01-05. https://archive.today/20130201014212/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/603388242.html?dids=603388242:603388242&FMT=AI&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+5,+1974&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(1886-Current+File)&desc=Rev.+Persell+to+Assume+Post. dead. February 1, 2013. subscription.
  15. News: Brachear. Manya A.. Episcopal Bishop Persell to retire next year: Health concerns, age and fatigue cited in e-mail to congregants. July 29, 2017. Chicago Tribune. March 29, 2006. en.
  16. Web site: The Rt. Rev. William D. Persell. Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. July 18, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091221052847/http://www.episcopalchicago.org/about/office/bishop-persell.cfm. December 21, 2009.
  17. Mark Kowalewski, Dean of St. John's
  18. Web site: Williams . Bob . 2023-02-22 . The Rev. Anne Sawyer named interim dean and priest-in-charge of L.A.’s St. John’s Cathedral . 2023-08-10 . Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles . en.

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