July 25, 2024

Dear Member,

The bells that faithfully rang on the quarter-hour, heard across Abalone Cove, have now been silenced. Wayfarers Chapel’s 80-foot tall landmark bell tower has been partially disassembled.  Reports are that it will be removed. 

Built in 1954, the slim, cross-topped tower was thought to be firmly anchored into the hillside, embedded in the ground two full stories. But the recent rainy winters which accelerated the Portuguese Bend landslide have proven otherwise. After 70 years, the tower is suddenly at risk of toppling over.

The Daily Breeze reported the urgency of the situation. “The danger [presented] by continued land movement to the bell tower requires it be taken down before it falls,” Dan Burchett, Wayfarers Chapel executive director, said in an email. “We will be preserving the bells, the cross, roof tile and as much of the PV stones as possible. When we rebuild, we will have a new tower and plan to use all we are saving from the current tower.” Additionally, the interior spiral staircase will be saved. Unfortunately, the ground has been deemed too unstable to safely erect scaffolding or bring in a crane to assist, meaning that not everything can be salvaged. However, as much original material as possible will be preserved in hopes of later re-construction. The process will be overseen by the same architectural preservation firm that supervised the Chapel’s recent dismantling. 

Crowned with a gleaming gold cross, architect Lloyd Wright designed the “Hallelujah Tower” as a symbol that lifts the cross upward toward Heaven. He used Palos Verdes stone and distinctive blue terra cotta roof tile in order to mimic the ocean and natural surroundings. However, the 16-bell carillon was not hung from it until 1978, first ringing on Christmas Eve of that year. In addition to its regular “Westminster chime”, the bells also pealed at the conclusion of each wedding ceremony. 

This iconic tower soared above the Church’s redwood grove and was visible to passers-by below on Palos Verdes Drive South. According to the Church's website, it was also visible to sailors traveling across the Catalina Channel at night who referred to the floodlit tower as “God’s candle”. 

The Glass Church, named a National Historical Landmark in 2023, was dismantled in May of this year. Sadly, the bell tower which had stood above it for so long will also become another chapter lost to Palos Verdes history, too.

There is hope these beautiful structures can one day be rebuilt. Meanwhile, dismantling and storage preservation costs are mounting.  If you can donate, here is the link to the Church’s official fundraising page. https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/donate/online-giving/   They would really appreciate the financial support of the community in preserving this truly special part of Palos Verdes history. 

The Palos Verdes Historical Society still has the museum as its goal.  In the meantime, we are displaying as much as possible around the community, such as the Artisan Colony model Frank Vanderlip had made in France prior to World War 1, which is on display at the Peninsula Center Library along with the mastadon tusk dug up in Malaga Cove in the 1920’s.

We at the Historical Society appreciate any donations you would like to make on this site.  We are all volunteers and do this out of love for the history of Palos Verdes.

Dana Graham, President