Los Angeles' Most Interesting Churches
Putting religion aside, Los Angeles is known for having some of the most beautiful churches in the state. With cathedral ceilings, stained-glass windows, sculptures and embellishments, many churches are considered works of art regardless of what faith they worship. Some of these churches dating back to hundreds of years ago make them historical landmarks with a very interesting past. Whether you're looking for a new venue for a morning mass or seeking visual enlightenment, check out these five most interesting churches in Los Angeles.
St. Vincent Catholic Church
621 W. Adams Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 749-8950
www.stvincentla.net/church
Sitting on West Adams Boulevard in South LA, St. Vincent was built in the 1920s and was the second Roman Catholic church to be consecrated in the city. Back then, its location was considered one of the wealthiest areas of the city as it sat a stone's throw from the Edward Doheny Mansion and the Stimson House. Back in the day, Pierre-Joseph Amédée Tremblay was the church's organist for nearly 25 years. But today's generation is familiar with St Vincent's appearances in the movies "End of Days" and "Constantine."
Related: Historic Churches In OC
St. Mary of the Angels Anglican Church
4510 Finley Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 660-2700
www.stmaryoftheangels.org
A traditional Anglican Church founded in the Hollywood-Los Feliz area, St. Mary has a diocese that reaches as far as Alaska, Montana, Arizona and the Mexican border, and was designated an Historic Cultural Monument in 1971. While the architecture may seem a bit plain compared to other churches, the attention lays in the details as St. Mary has some of the most beautiful stained-glass windows. In 2012, St. Mary was embroiled in an internal scandal when Father Christopher Kelley was fired. He and a few dedicated church members occupied the rectory and basement and refused to leave in a bizarre standoff.
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sophia
1324 S. Normandie Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 737-2424
www.stsophia.org
While most people trying to make it in Hollywood would sell their soul to the devil for success, Charles Skouras went in the other direction. As a poor Greek immigrant trying to get ahead in the movie industry, Charles made a vow to God that if he succeeded, he would build a magnificent cathedral as a thank you. Like a plot from a feel-good movie, Charles went on to become the head of National Pictures. In return, he built one of the most architecturally stunning churches with gold embellishments and jaw-dropping artistry to be named the most beautiful church in all of Los Angeles and Orange County. Charles' brother Spyros also had enormous success and became the president of 20thCentury Fox.
LA Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
815 E. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 680-9130
www.nishihongwanji-la.org
Sometimes city life can get overwhelming and you need to just get away. But with work schedules and commitments, the substantial time off needed to effectively decompress is hard to come by. Fortunately, LA Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple welcomes people of any faith. If not for the exotic architecture, go for the serenity of the Japanese Garden designed by Japanes garden expert Mr. Nunokawa and planted through countless hours of labor by Temple members. The floral aromas and gentle songs of resident birds will melt away the burden of city life as you are transported into a peaceful state of mind and body. Festivals and services are open to all.
Angelus Temple
1100 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 816-1109
www.angelustemple.org
Founded by an evangelical sensation of the 1920s and 1930s, Aimee Semple McPherson, Angelus Temple was constructed and dedicated in 1923. The structure was the largest of its time with a ceiling of 125 feet with panoramic clouds and eight stained-glass windows depicting the life of Jesus Christ. While McPherson's life was documented with biopics in 1976 (The Disappearance of Aimee) and an independent film in 2006 ("Aimee Semple McPherson"), it's really the work of the church that has become famous. Angelus Temple has volunteer programs to help the homeless, drug addicted, impoverished and victims of hunger and human trafficking.