Chatsworth Community Church

Chatsworth Community Church
Chatsworth Community Church, September 2008
Location22601 Lassen Street
Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
United States
Coordinates34°15′17″N 118°37′14″W / 34.25474°N 118.62053°W / 34.25474; -118.62053
Built1903
Governing bodyprivate
DesignatedNovember 2, 1962[1]
Reference no.14
Chatsworth Community Church is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Chatsworth Community Church
Location of Chatsworth Community Church in the Los Angeles metropolitan area

Chatsworth Community Church is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles, California.

History

The church was built in 1903 using volunteer labor.[2] It was also used as the community's high school from 1906–1908. It was a center of community life in the early days of Chatsworth, serving as a haven from floods and fires.[2]

In 1958, its name was changed to the Chatsworth First Methodist Church.

After the church was closed in 1963, it was left vacant and became the victim of vandalism.[3][4] The church was "the last remaining community building" of old Chatsworth,[2] and became threatened by development.

In January 1963, it became only the fourteenth site to be designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. In order to save it from demolition, the Chatsworth Historical Society raised $19,725 to move the church in 1965 from its original location at 10051 Topanga Canyon Boulevard to its present site on the grounds of Oakwood Memorial Park.[3][5]

Today

The building was saved, moved, and restored through the efforts of the Chatsworth Historical Society. The Oakwood Memorial Park Association allowed the building to be moved to the northwest corner of the cemetery and since November 15, 1981, the building has been occupied by the congregation of St. Mary the Virgin Anglican-Rite Catholic Church. On February 22, 1984, the Don Jose de Ortega Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented a bronze plaque to the church marking the building's place in California history. They also presented an American Flag and a California Flag which rest on standards in the nave.

In 1982, The Right Reverend James Orin Mote, Bishop of the Los Angeles Diocese, consecrated the building for the Anglican-Rite Catholic Church.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Los Angeles Department of City Planning (September 7, 2007). "Historic - Cultural Monuments (HCM) Listing: City Declared Monuments" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Archived from the original (PDF format) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Bernstein, Sid (January 28, 1965). "Old Chatsworth Church Moving to New Site; Second Life Awaits Historic Edifice, Saved from Progress (Destruction) by Relocation". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ a b Burleigh, Irv (June 27, 1976). "Grants Sought to Preserve Old Church and Kiln". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ "Vandals only Hasten Church Restoration". Los Angeles Times. June 4, 1970.
  5. ^ "Work Will Start on Restoration of Church". Los Angeles Times. May 6, 1965.
  6. ^ "St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Catholic Parish » the Pioneer Church".