People of all religious beliefs have been known to visit here because of its magnificent views and lovely architecture. This LDS temple is one of the most beautiful churches in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 82,417 square-foot, 170 foot-tall temple was built in the early 1960s and can be seen from many scenic points across the Bay Area. The temple features a visitor's center that offers exhibits and interactive presentations on religious topics. It also features a family history center that offers geneaology services and over 21 million microfilms available. The temple remains open to the public Tuesday through Saturday.
That huge, modern glass tower perched on the edge of Lake Merritt is actually the Cathedral of Christ the Light, although it is sometimes known simply as the Oakland Cathedral. This Roman Catholic Cathedral was actually the first built in the 21st Century as a replacement for the Cathedral of Saint Frances de Sales, which was damaged beyond repair in the 1989 earthquake. Among the regular attributes, the Cathedral includes a health services center providing help to those without insurance, a mausoleum for the bishops of Oakland, a cafe, a bookstore and a public garden. The Cathedral often hosts classical and religious concerts and concert series that are free to the public.
Established in 1914, Northbrae Community Church is a cherished spiritual cornerstone in Berkeley, CA. As a long-standing community church, Northbrae has been dedicated to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for worship, community service, and personal growth for over a century. Join us for inspiring services, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact in our community.
Glide Memorial Church is a United Methodist Church in San Francisco that was opened in 1929. It is said to be one of the most liberal churches in the US. Since the 1960's it has provided various services for the poor like three meal servings daily, AIDS testing, mental and primary health care, women's programs, literacy classes, free legal services for the homeless and many more. Visitors from all over the world attend the Sunday celebrations and the funds got from these are used for the church.
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This Roman Catholic church, dated 1851, was founded to serve San Francisco's Irish community. That commitment is reflected in the church's gold, green and white decor. Note, for example, the green-tinted rose window over the choir. The columns on either side of the nave are Connemara green marble imported from Ireland itself. What makes this neo-Gothic church especially worth seeing are the Tiffany stained glass windows glowing brightly beneath the vaulted ceiling. There are also display cases with photographs of the extensive damage to St. Patrick's during the 1906 earthquake.
Despite the popular misconception, Joe DiMaggio did not marry Marilyn Monroe in this opulent church (that was at City Hall). He did, however, marry his first wife, starlet Dorothy Arnold, here and it was this church that celebrated his funeral mass. Dating only from 1922, this Roman Catholic church is awash in marble, gilding and ornately carved wood, starting with the life-size, marble angel at the entrance. Inside the hushed sanctuary, redolent with the aroma of burning candles, is an elaborately carved and painted ceiling glinting with gold leaf. Pendant chandeliers in aged brass and frosted glass hang from the arches of the colonnade on either side of the nave. The altar is an explosion of marble carved with the titular saints of the church, plus cherubs. Statues and shrines, including one to Our Lady of Lourdes that features a faux grotto, line the walls and the elaborate chapels. St. Peter and Paul Church is located near Washington Square, which is an outdoor meeting hall and social center.
The interior of this ultra-modern Catholic church is sleek, spare and remarkably intimate, considering that it seats 2400 people in a semi-circle around the altar. The central dome of Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption soars 15 stories into the air and is supported by buttresses that have been incorporated into each of the four corners of the building's interior. The corner walls beyond them are floor-to-ceiling plate glass. This effect gives the building the feeling of somehow being lighter than air for all its masses.
Founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1779, Mission San Francisco de Asis, also known as Mission Dolores, is the oldest structure in San Francisco. The mission and the city that surrounds it was named after St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order. The Mission Dolores has gone through several repairs and renovations since its founding and the mission's original adobe structure still stands on-site, as well as a section of the original cemetery. The mission was the first location to be designated by the City of San Francisco as a protected historical landmark in 1968.
