Los Angeles’ most Instagrammable chapel, a midcentury trendy construction with redwoods, an ocean view and a protracted historical past as a well-liked wedding ceremony venue, has closed indefinitely. After current storms, Wayfarers Chapel introduced that land motion within the space had elevated.
Simply months after the Rancho Palos Verdes church was named a Nationwide Historic Landmark, the venue was compelled to close its doorways.
“Efficient instantly,” an announcement learn, “we’re extraordinarily devastated to announce the closure of Wayfarers Chapel and its surrounding property because of the accelerated land motion in our native space.”
The assertion mentioned these with reservations would obtain refunds.
The Rev. David Brown advised The Instances in December that greater than 300,000 folks visited the chapel the earlier yr, and about 400 {couples} have been married there, a dip from pre-pandemic ranges.
Superstar nuptials have included Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay in 1958 and the Seaside Boys’ Brian Wilson and Melinda Ledbetter in 1995. 4 years after the Wilson-Ledbetter nuptials, the chapel hosted 800 weddings.
“Guests have advised me they bear in mind watching Jayne Mansfield getting carried to the limo,” Brown mentioned.
The 100-seat chapel, recognized to many guests as “the Glass Church,” was designed by Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was accomplished in 1951.
The chapel sits on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, which has lengthy been liable to landslides. The construction overlooks Abalone Cove, which is a landslide complicated. Land motion has affected the world in current a long time, inflicting fissures and the earth and constructions to buckle and drift.
The chapel needed to take away its unique guests middle as a consequence of land motion. The brand new middle was designed by Lloyd Wright’s son Eric Lloyd Wright.
Wayfarers Chapel is ready amongst bushes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the place it overlooks Abalone Cove, a landslide complicated.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Instances)
Instances employees author Lisa Boone contributed to this report.
