Wayfarers Chapel
"The Glass Church"
Location5755 Palos Verdes Drive South
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
CountryUnited States
DenominationSwedenborgian
Websitewayfarerschapel.org
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationNational Historic Landmark
Architect(s)Lloyd Wright
StyleModernist
Clergy
Minister(s)Rev. David Brown
(Director of Ministry)
Wayfarers Chapel
Wayfarers Chapel is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Wayfarers Chapel
Wayfarers Chapel is located in California
Wayfarers Chapel
Location5755 Palos Verdes Dr. S
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Coordinates33°44′37.1″N 118°22′39.9″W / 33.743639°N 118.377750°W / 33.743639; -118.377750
Area3.528 acres (1.428 ha)
Built1951
NRHP reference No.05000210 (NRHP listing),
100009801 (NHL designation)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 11, 2005
Designated NHLDecember 11, 2023

Wayfarers Chapel, or "The Glass Church" located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, has unique organic architecture sited on cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. Affiliated with the Swedenborgian Church of North America, it serves as a memorial to the 18th century scientist and theosopher, Emanuel Swedenborg.

History

The 100-seat church was designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) in the late 1940s and was built between 1949 and 1951, at a cost of $25,000.[1] Wright departed from the tradition of using masonry in order to "achieve a delicate enclosure that allows the surrounding landscape to define the sacred space".[2] Additions were built in later years, including a tower and a visitor center, the latter of which had been lost in a landslide during the 1960s.[3]

Architecture and design

As with many of Wright's buildings, the chapel features geometric designs and incorporates the natural landscape into the design.[4] In the 1950s, the chapel featured a hanging garden.[1]

The Wayfarers Chapel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture and landscaping in 2023.[5][6]

Because of its scenic location, the church is popular for weddings.[7] In 1999, the chapel hosted 800 weddings.[1]

The church was featured in the Fox teen drama television series The O.C., as the site of weddings and funerals. It was also featured briefly on the American science fiction television series Sliders,[8] and in an episode of The Rockford Files (season 2, episode 10, "2 Into 5.56 Won't Go"). In addition, the chapel was part of the final marriage scene in Innerspace, and two episodes in season four of 90210. The chapel was featured in one of the final scenes in the 2014 movie Endless Love, as well as being featured in the ABC television series Revenge. Marina and the Diamond's Baby music video's wedding scene was filmed at the chapel, and The CW show, Lucifer. Pentatonix's video for the song Amazing Grace was filmed at the chapel.

Celebities who were married at the church have included Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay (1958) as well as Brian Wilson and Melinda Ledbetter (1995).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Boone, Lisa (December 19, 2023). "The most Instagrammable chapel in L.A. is now a historic landmark". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ↑ Solomon, Nancy B., ed. (2008). Architecture: Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future. Visual Reference Publications Inc. p. 324. ISBN 9781584711629.
  3. ↑ "Wayfarer's Chapel to Rebuild Visitors Center". Los Angeles Times. February 11, 1998.
  4. ↑ "Wayfarers Chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Jr., receives National Historic Landmark nomination". ABC7 Los Angeles. KABC. June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  5. ↑ "WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 12/8/2023 THROUGH 12/15/2023". National Park Service. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ "NHL nomination for Wayfarers Chapel (executive summary)" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ Ferrell, David (May 24, 2001). "A Fragile Beauty on the Shifting Rock of Ages". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  8. ↑ The O. C. Filming Locations
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