Effort underway to save famed Southern California glass chapel
An effort is underway to save a beloved Southern California landmark that is in danger of being lost forever due to shifting land in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Wayfarers Chapel, also known as “The Glass Church,” was closed indefinitely last week following another torrential downpour across Los Angeles County and beyond.
The popular wedding chapel, which was designed by famed architect Lloyd Wright in the 1940s, stands among a crowd of trees that overlook Abalone Cove. It has hosted thousands of weddings, including celebrity nuptials, since it opened in 1951.
Rancho Palos Verdes has been the site of ongoing landslides and erosion for years, heightening in recent months with homes gobbled up by shifting hillsides and roads buckled by unstable ground.
Reverend David Brown, director of ministry at the church, has organized a GoFundMe campaign in hopes to raising enough money to help save the building. The church already is strapped for cash due to wedding and event cancellations.
“The cost is enormous, and the cost of repairing the Chapel to a degree where it can reopen is even greater,” Brown wrote on the fundraising website.
The reverend said the glass church is more than just a chapel, more than just an icon of groundbreaking adventurous architecture, and more than just a national landmark.
“When you go into Wayfarers Chapel, you feel connected to something greater than you. It defies description and it’s a magical experience for everyone, regardless of faith,” he wrote.
Brown said that 100% of the donations made through the GoFundMe campaign will be directed to efforts to stabilize and restore the chapel.
“This is an endeavor that will take years and must be done in stages,” he wrote. “We are inviting you here to be among the first supporters helping us recover from the devastating landslide of 2024.”
The campaign aims to raise $250,000 to save the church and its surrounding property. As of Monday afternoon, more than $15,000 has been donated toward that lofty goal.
In addition to those providing financial gifts, many of those who have donated to the efforts are sharing their stories about their connection to the church, including those who were married there in the past and those who dreamed of following suit.
“I dreamed of getting married at Wayfarers since I was in grade school and my fiancé and I were so excited that we were able to book our May 2025 wedding there,” wrote Ryanne Waters. “Donating in the hopes that we can save this beautiful place so other couples may have their wedding dreams come true once it has been restored and safe for public access!”
“My husband and I were married at the chapel in 1999, and had hoped to visit on our 25 anniversary. I hope all who chose this beautiful chapel by the sea will help to protect it from declining,” wrote Connie Robbins.
Those interested in donating or sharing their memories can do so here.
Rancho Palos Verdes has experienced land movement along the coast and on its sweeping hills. It’s been the site of several landslides, often driven by significant rainfall.
The City is expected to request that California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to help with efforts to speed up remediation efforts and slow the spread of the land that supports numerous homes and businesses.
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