St. Mary's Chapel @ 1951
Originally a small portion of our church building (in the black and white photo above) was consecrated on June 22, 1926 by Episcopal Bishop Joseph Horsfall Johnson as St. Mary's Chapel. It was a memorial to an early church woman now known only as Deaconess Mary and located at Deaconess House in the Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. In 1951 the California Mission style sanctuary, "accompanied by the men of Transfiguration," "trudged" its way from Boyle Heights to its present site in Arcadia. The building was settled on a large piece of land that held an old house and garage, and lots of weeds. Santa Anita School was to the south, and stables were to the north.
Even though this little chapel has been moved, pulled apart, enlarged, had holes cut and windows added, it has never lost its feeling of holiness and mystery, and the sense of the presence of God and of those who worship here now and before.
On the south side, by the St. Mary window, is the baptismal font. The stone font portion came from Wales and is almost 500 years old. The carved inscription reads, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." This was given to the 1926 chapel by Fr. Ruggles. The cover was carved by Grace Day.
Also on that wall is a beautiful Celtic cross made by Craig Funsten in memory of his father, Norm Funsten. On the east wall hangs the original St. Mary's Chapel plaque, designed and made by the Rev. F. J. Bates in 1928. Now, come into the nave. Before you go through the doors, look up at the lunette of tiles. This is the original back wall of the 1926 chapel; the lunette, a gift from a Mrs. Milbank, having been above the outside entrance.
As you enter the nave, turn around and look up. Over the doors is a carving of dogwood blossoms done by Grace Day, added here after the expansion of the church in 1953. Above the carving is a beautiful rose window of the Annunciation. This too, was in the original back wall of the 1926 chapel.
You are now in the 1953 portion of the nave. The skillfully designed expansion of the church involved removing the entrance wall of the original chapel and moving it east about 40 feet. The construction of an additional church wall in between ultimately doubled the size of the church. Looking up, you can see the windows lining both sides, each window bearing a symbol of Mary. Below, you can read the plaques on the pews, indicating memorials to various parishioners.
As you move forward, upon reaching the area between the third and fourth upper windows (counting from the altar), you have entered the 1926 portion of the chapel. Until the 1953 addition, the pews backed against the walls and faced toward the center aisle, with some chairs filling in.
The carvings at the altar, on the side niches, and on the lectern were all done by Grace Day. Do take time to look carefully at these. They are truly works of art and love.
Written by Lola Palmer
