Sunset Ward (CA)

Today I'd like to highlight a beautiful building in San Francisco which houses the Sunset Ward.

Originally built in 1945, the building had some really wonderful artwork and features that made it unique. It has since been remodeled and lost many of these features, but it still stands today.

Above the main entrance to the chapel was a relief sculpture by Anna Stevenson. It showed Joseph Smith next to the scripture "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God."

(Image Source: Church History Library)

 She also designed a small sculpture at the front of the building that shows a beehive and seagull.

(Image Source: Church History Library)

The sculpture over the door was removed in a subsequent renovation, and is now in the collection of the Church History Museum. The smaller sculpture remains, but it is no longer painted, and isn't as noticeable.

(Image Source: Google Maps)

(Image Source: Church History Library)

The chapel itself was also unique. It had theatre seats for the congregation instead of benches, a unique pulpit that had inset boxes for scriptures, and a large charcoal drawing of Christ, done by Ernest Semereau as his contribution.

(Image Source: Church History Library)

The remodel of this chapel changed the look significantly, adding dark wood, removing the chairs and putting in pews, and changing the color scheme. The picture of Christ was removed at some point until it was hung again in the lobby in 1978.

(Image Source: LDS Architecture)

The choice of art and architecture was entirely done by local members. For example, the room with the baptismal font had a stained glass window donated by Sister Quealey, a member of the McCune family from Salt Lake City, which originally hung in the McCune home. It had very little religious significance in and of itself, but the beauty of the window was apparently enough for its selection by the Bishop and its placement in the baptistry. It shows a nymph standing tall. The baptismal font was removed in a later renovation, and the window is presumably in the Church's art collection.

(Image Source: Church History Library)

Due to cultural and fiscal trends, membership of the Church in the Bay Area has declined significantly in recent years, but the building continues to serve a ward and a branch. While it has been changed significantly, a lot of its charm remains, and the renovation overall did a good job of preserving the building's character.

Eighth Ward (Salt Lake): Artwork Detail

At the front of the chapel is the painting titled The Straight and Narrow Way, designed and donated by John M. Chamberlain, a choir director from the Eighth Ward who wrote the hymn, "We Are Marching on to Glory."

The painting itself was done by Otto Weiss in 1904, so it predates the building (built around 1920). I'm still trying to find out more information about Otto. The painting shows Christ leading the way on the straight and narrow path (which symbolically leads to Temple Square, as you can see below). Also pictured are those falling from the path, humble disciples who follow Christ, and some wandering off to a dark landscape in the back.

On the side of the chapel is a large painting of Daniel in the Lion's Den, done by W.C. Morris in 1886. William Morris was a well-known artist who participated in many projects, including doing the murals that used to grace the ceiling of the Assembly Hall on Temple Square.

Eighth Ward (Salt Lake): Stained Glass Details

The windows lining the chapel are classic examples of the prairie style: architectural patterns with mostly horizontal and vertical lines.

The windows lining the chapel are identical.

As shown previously, the windows above the north entrance are all identical...

...except for one.

Eighth Ward (Salt Lake): Chapel Interior

Note: I originally documented the Salt Lake 8th Ward in 2015, but am updated the posts in this series with new, higher-quality pictures.

 

The chapel has stained glass windows along both sides, detailed moldings along the walls, and beautiful patterns the run the length of the ceiling.

 

 

 

At the front of the chapel, the rostrum has unique wood patterns, two pieces of artwork (which I'll dive into in another post), and a two-tiered sacrament table.

 

The back of the chapel has a small cry room in an enclosed balcony section.