Sanctuary

The Sanctuary of Northbrae Community Church, dedicated in 1967, as the Laurance L. Cross Memorial Chapel, was designed by architect Reginald Inwood of Carmel, California.  Completed by the Lathrop Construction Company of Berkeley, California in January, 1958, it took 120 days to erect at a cost of $80,000 without furnishings.  The building is an A-frame construction of redwood, stone and glass.

Artist Dixi Hall of Laguna Beach, California designed the six pieces of Italian glass mosaic.  They include the pulpit, the lectern, the altar, and the altar symbols: the cross, menorah, and torch.  These symbols represent the Christian, Jewish and other religious traditions from which Northbrae draws its religious perspective of openness.

The stained glass windows were designed and constructed by the Wallis Stained Glass Company of Pasadena, California, in collaboration with Rev. Cross.

The digital-sampling electronic organ is from the Rodgers Company of Portland, Oregon.

Gardens

The Northbrae Gardens are a gift of open space and beauty from Northbrae to the community.  The gardens were the idea and great love of Rev. Cross.  It is even possible to see and enjoy a garden area from within the Chapel.                                      

The gardens are divided into sections, some carrying out specific themes and each containing selected plantings.  The areas include the Plaza Garden, the Berkeley-University Garden, the California History Garden, the Appalachian Garden of Rhododendrons, the Cross Family Garden, the Sanctuary Garden, and the Peace Rose Walk and Rose Garden.

Many rhododendrons are found in the Northbrae Gardens.  Two of the varieties are so old that even experts do not know their names.  One new variety was named for Rev. Cross, recognizing his great love for rhododendrons.  There are so many varieties in the church gardens that there is hardly a day in the year when some rhododendrons are not in bloom.                        [TOP]

Of special interest in the gardens is a redwood post, 2000 years old, which stands on the north side of the Chapel beneath two old Mexican mission bells.  The plaque on the post is a replica of the one thought for some time to have been left by Sir Francis Drake, claiming the territory for England.  The bench beside the post is a duplicate of the one on which Father Serra rested at the Carmel Mission in 1775.  Richmond Cross reproduced this bench.

The statue of Saint Francis of Assisi was designed and cast in bronze by Miriam Cross Shelton to represent a young Francis about to take his first step into a life of service.

The Sanctuary Garden, discovered behind the altar by sliding the lower portion of the stained glass window aside, was designed by landscape architect Mashara Imazumi.

The Hut

Main Building - Haver Hall, Parlor, Gallery, Nursery, Office spaces                                                                                                                           [TOP]