Historic St. Peter’s Chapel
 |
| St. Peter’s has one of the
largest collections of Tiffany-glass windows in
North America. |
You’ve lived here for years and years, and
still you come across little spots, streets, and sights you
never knew existed.
The Bay Area is amazingly abundant in
captivating places of interest, which is partly what makes
us love living here so much. The Local’s Lounge will be
featuring spots each month you may have heard of, but might
not have made time to visit yet. Maybe our little reminder
will prompt you to venture out and see what they are all
about!
St. Peter’s Chapel
This stunning spot is located on Mare Island in Vallejo and
is the oldest naval chapel in the United States. It was the
Navy’s first non-denominational chapel and the first service
was held there on October 6, 1901. It cost about $5,000 to
build, which seems like nothing today but was definitely a
chunk out of the pocketbook around the turn of the century!
The chapel is a fine example of American
Gothic architecture, built to seat 2,000 people. It’s
nestled among landscaped grounds that have been extensively
and carefully manicured and are a pleasure to stroll
through, but the real treat is inside.
At the request of Chaplin Adam McAlister, the
Chaplin at the turn of the century, St Peter’s Chapel became
home to 29 stained glass windows, 16 of which were
particularly special. All of the windows were designed by
Louis Comfort Tiffany, but 16 in particular were signed by
Tiffany Studios in New York. These priceless windows are a
stunning collection of translucent glass, one of the largest
in North America housed under one roof. The stained glass
pieces are nicely offset by the delicately detailed brass
wall plaques and the exquisitely hand-carved wooden tablets
in the ceiling.
There have been
ongoing efforts by the Daffodil Tea Committee to fund-raise
for restoration costs for this precious chapel. On May 8,
they will be holding the last Music in the Mansion in the
historic Quarters H next door to the chapel. The musical
group The Flutes of Fancy will perform Renaissance and
Baroque pieces in period costumes of the time. The concert
will be held in the afternoon, with tea and desserts served
as well. So if you are looking for something to do with Mom
that also supports a highly worthy cause, check our events
calendar for further details.
