Jim Morgan is a member of the Palos Verdes Peninsula (Noon) Rotary Club, and Director of Operations for the Wayfarers Chapel on Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes.
 
The Wayfarers Chapel (“The Glass Church”) is noted for its unique modern architecture and location on cliffs above the Ocean. It is part of the Swedenborgian Church of North America (founded by Emanuel Swedenborg, theologian and scientist from the 1700′s and noted for his spiritual illumination of the Bible).
 
 
The Chapel began in the late 1920s as an idea of Elizabeth Schellenberg, a Swedenborgian Church member in Palos Verdes. She wanted a little hillside chapel above the ocean where wayfarers could stop to rest, meditate and give thanks to God. The Peninsula was mostly farmland, with a 2-lane shoreline gravel road between San Pedro and Palos Verdes Estates. Narcissa Cox Vanderlip, also a Swedenborgian member, agreed to donate land for the chapel site and invited young architect Ralph Jester to draw up the plans, but they were delayed by the 1930s depression and World War II. After the war, Mr Jester urged his friend Lloyd Wright (son of the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright) to design the project, and it was built between 1949 and 1951. Later additions included the Hallelujah Tower with 16-bell carillon and a reflection pool in 1954, and fountain in 1984. Eric Wright (Lloyd Wright’s son) designed the Visitors Center and Chapel Gift Shop in 2001, and a Meditation Garden and Donors Wall have been added.
 
The Chapel has geometric designs and incorporates the natural landscape into the design, typical of Wright’s buildings, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is nestled in a grove of towering redwoods, expressing a sacred space that welcomes all wayfarers along life’s path. With a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, its 3½ acres feature beautifully landscaped gardens and trees forming arbored walkways. Because of its scenic location, the church is very popular for weddings. It has been featured in many television programs and has been the site of a number of celebrity weddings.
 
The Wayfarers Chapel is a church without membership that welcomes people of all faiths to attend the 10 AM Sunday service. Wedding couples from all religious backgrounds are invited to celebrate their marriage commitments in the “Glass Church” and its beautiful gardens. It is open 9-5 daily (Visitors Center 10-5). For information on Chapel services, weddings, baptisms, and memorials, please contact the Reservations Office, 310-377-1650, ext 1, or see its website, http://www.wayfarerschapel.org/.
 
Fundraising is underway to help restore the Front Garden to Lloyd Wright's original design. $5000 has been raised toward the $20,000 goal. Donors will be recognized, and $1000+ donors will have their names on a new light in the garden. (Our Club donated $100 toward this restoration.)