Wayfarers Chapel

10/15/2026

On September 30, Wayfarers Chapel celebrated a remarkable milestone as descendants of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright visited the prospective Battery Barnes site in Rancho Palos Verdes, where a new chapter in the Chapel's extraordinary history may soon unfold.

“We were honored to welcome Mary Wright, wife of the late architect Eric Lloyd Wright and daughter-in-law of Wayfarers Chapel architect Lloyd Wright, along with her sons, Cory and Devon Wright, and John Ulloth, Eric Wright's longtime draftsman, whom the family described as exceptionally talented,” shared Reverend Dr. David Brown of Wayfarers Chapel.

The visit was especially meaningful as Mary shared that, of all the buildings her late husband spoke about, Wayfarers Chapel was the one he talked about most. Perhaps that special affection was rooted in a deep personal connection: Mary and Eric were married at the Chapel in 1962! Mary McDonnell and Eric Lloyd Wright’s wedding ceremony was held at Wayfarers Chapel on February 16, 1962! Third photo from L to R: Anna Bryson (Mary’s sister), Lloyd Wright, Mary Wright, Eric Wright, Helen Taggart Wright (Lloyd’s wife), Rupert Pole (Eric’s half brother, Helen’s son from previous marriage).

Now, generations later, the Wright family will play a role in Rebuilding the Wright Legacy, helping to carry forward the architectural vision and spirit that made this beloved National Historic Landmark an internationally treasured masterpiece.

Standing together at the prospective new site, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was a powerful reminder that Wayfarers Chapel is more than an architectural treasure. It is a living legacy of family, love, faith, nature, and visionary design.

From one generation of Wrights to the next, the legacy continues.

Sign up for our newsletter for future updates:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/newsletter/

09/17/2026

In September 1984, the Memorial Fountain for the Reflection Pool was dedicated. A new fountain bubbler replaced three smaller bubblers in the reflection pool. Originally completed in 1954, the pool consisted of two steps of Palos Verdes stone and concrete, surrounded by a band of stone and concrete of the same width and bounded by concrete walkways. The stone-clad reflection pool reflects Lloyd Wright’s original landscape design and was completed the same year as the bell tower, sidewalks, and berm walls that comprise the raised planters around the building.

Sign up for our newsletter for future updates:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/newsletter/

09/15/2026

Reminder to join us tonight, September 15th, for our next Exploring New Earth+ discussion at 6:00pm with spiritual wisdom teacher Darren Austin Hall! Darren will demonstrate some of his sonic soundscapes for us directly from his studio for all to enjoy.

Darren Austin Hall: Spiritual Educator/Sacred Musician/Sound Healer is an internationally recognized spiritual wisdom teacher, sound healer, sacred musician, author, and transformational facilitator who has dedicated his life's work to exploring the profound relationship between sound, consciousness, and human well-being. Through immersive sound healing experiences, wisdom teachings, and sacred music, Darren has inspired audiences around the world to reconnect with themselves through the restorative power of vibration, music, and presence.

As the founder of the Source Resonance Academy, Darren leads sound healing retreats, professional training programs, and immersive workshops that empower practitioners to use sacred sound as a powerful modality for healing and personal transformation. His internationally acclaimed Sacred Sound Journeys and Mystical Music Concerts blend ancient wisdom, live instrumentation, voice, and intuitive soundscapes to create deeply restorative experiences that calm the nervous system, awaken inner awareness, and cultivate emotional and spiritual well-being. His work has attracted a global following, including collaborations and performances alongside internationally renowned musician Mose and recognition from wellness pioneers Wim Hof, and Gabor Mate MD. who is an enthusiastic supporter of Darren's sound healing journeys.

Sign up for our mailing list for more instructions:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/services/worship/exploring-new-earth/

09/01/2026

Join us in two weeks on September 15th for our next Exploring New Earth+ discussion at 6:00pm with spiritual wisdom teacher Darren Austin Hall! Darren will demonstrate some of his sonic soundscapes for us directly from his studio for all to enjoy.

Darren Austin Hall: Spiritual Educator/Sacred Musician/Sound Healer is an internationally recognized spiritual wisdom teacher, sound healer, sacred musician, author, and transformational facilitator who has dedicated his life's work to exploring the profound relationship between sound, consciousness, and human well-being. Through immersive sound healing experiences, wisdom teachings, and sacred music, Darren has inspired audiences around the world to reconnect with themselves through the restorative power of vibration, music, and presence.

As the founder of the Source Resonance Academy, Darren leads sound healing retreats, professional training programs, and immersive workshops that empower practitioners to use sacred sound as a powerful modality for healing and personal transformation. His internationally acclaimed Sacred Sound Journeys and Mystical Music Concerts blend ancient wisdom, live instrumentation, voice, and intuitive soundscapes to create deeply restorative experiences that calm the nervous system, awaken inner awareness, and cultivate emotional and spiritual well-being. His work has attracted a global following, including collaborations and performances alongside internationally renowned musician Mose and recognition from wellness pioneers Wim Hof, and Gabor Mate MD. who is an enthusiastic supporter of Darren's sound healing journeys.

Sign up for our mailing list for more instructions:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/services/worship/exploring-new-earth/

08/06/2026

In 1973, Lloyd Wright, collaborating with board members, designed a biblical diorama conveying the Swedenborgian teaching of the Bible. The first unit was a miniature Garden of Eden leading into an overall view of the Holy Land. The second unit focused on the New Testament, following the life of Jesus from his birth through his resurrection. A natural tree-chapel dominated the third unit. In addition to a written explanation at each group of figures on the diorama, there was a printed brochure available to the public for them to read in the Center and to take home. The dioramas were eventually removed before the original Visitors Center closed in 1982.

Lloyd Wright's notes:
Swedenborg exhibit for the visiting wayfarers (dated June 1970)

"Illustrated in a similar manner to the Orthodox Christian stations of the cross illustrative of Swedenborg's contributions to religious analogies and correspondences, coordinating religious and scientific phenomena illustrated with 12 exhibits, more or less, of Swedenborg's religious teachings. Mounted in various ways, ordered as suggested by him, so that the wayfarers visiting his memorial would see typified in physical form his philosophy."

# # #

In the Bible, we find two parallel stories: a historical account of people, places, and events; and a deeper, spiritual, and often metaphorical reflection of our individual spiritual journeys. These stories depict our journey of spiritual awakening and transformation.

Plans H/T: CCA, Centre Canadien d'Architecture / Canadian Centre for Architecture

Sign up for our newsletter for future updates:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/newsletter/

07/23/2026

Wayfarers Chapel-Glitterati History: Amongst the earliest celebrity weddings was the marriage of actress Jayne Mansfield to Mickey Hargitay on January 13, 1958, which helped cement the Chapel’s international reputation. If you haven’t yet seen the 2025 film, My Mom Jayne, produced by her youngest daughter, Mariska Hargitay, it should not be missed. The movie is the untold story of one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons, Jayne Mansfield, seen through the lens of her children of whom at a very young age lost their mom in a tragic car accident when Jayne was only 34 years old, on June 29th, 1967. The movie is a collection of never-seen-before intimate interviews and an extensive collection of home movies. It is aptly described as a testament to the transformative rewards of an unflinching search for truth, unveiling Mariska’s journey to reclaim her mother’s story and her own. There is a poignant picture on the film of Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay’s wedding at Wayfarers Chapel in 1958. The unveiling documentary can be streamed on HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

We’d love your help in preserving that history of milestone moments!

Share your favorite photograph of Wayfarers Chapel in the comments. Was it your wedding day? A family visit? A quiet moment of reflection? Tell us when your photo was taken and what made that day special. Together, let’s celebrate the countless memories that make Wayfarers Chapel so much more than a building; it is a place that lives on in all of us. As we work on “Rebuilding the Wright Legacy” at a new prospective site, we welcome your submissions celebrating the Palos Verdes Peninsula’s only National Historic Landmark on this nostalgic Throwback Thursday.


📸: Libraries

Sign up for our newsletter for future updates:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/newsletter/

07/16/2026

This Sunday, July 19th, Ben Gunter will lead our Exploring New Earth discussions through August 16th. Ben Gunter is a candidate for ordination with the Swedenborgian Church of North America and a parishioner and board member of Wayfarers Chapel. He is currently engaged in a ministry fellowship at the Church on the Hill Boston. He completed graduate training in psychology at UCLA and theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

In this special five-week series, Ben will lead a conversation about Swedenborgian theology using the outline of "New Jerusalem." We'll be discussing the keys to spiritual life, heavenly happiness, and inner peace according to Swedenborg.

Sign up for our mailing list for more instructions:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/ENE

07/11/2026

On this day in 2005, Wayfarers Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The chapel received the honor for achievements in architecture and organic architecture. The designation laid the foundation for the chapel's status to be elevated in 2023, when it was officially designated a National Historic Landmark, which is the very highest level of landmarking, approximately 40-times more exclusive than the Register of Historic Places.

From the application:
Wayfarers Chapel itself is the crown jewel of the Chapel complex, an integration of buildings and nature conceived and designed by Lloyd Wright in the late 1940s. The Chapel building is an architectural gem comprised of glass, redwood and stone, and is a testament to the innovative ideas and construction techniques of the architect. A true organic architect, Wright designed a complete Chapel complex that included a bell tower, a colonnade, a visitors center and offices, all of which extend naturally from the exquisite glass, redwood and stone Chapel, and all of which fit right into the terrain on which they stand. The entire area is encompassed and enhanced on the landward side by carefully nurtured trees, lawns and gardens, while the vast, ever-changing beauty of the Pacific Ocean glorifies it from the seaward side. The Chapel's cornerstone, a naturally-occurring triangular section of Palos Verdes stone was dedicated and the property consecrated in 1949.

Lloyd Wright's design expertise and his commitment to the principles of organic architecture, the blending of human design and the use and implementation of natural materials, angles, and shapes, combined to create the powerful vision and peaceful, reverent place he intended.

📸: Joey Ikemoto Photography, Inc.

Sign up for our newsletter for future updates:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/newsletter/

06/18/2026

On May 13th, Wayfarers Chapel commemorated its 75th Anniversary with a memorable celebration overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Rancho Palos Verdes Civic Center, bringing together community leaders, elected officials, preservation advocates, supporters, and members of the Vanderlip family to honor the grandeur of what lies ahead for the new campus.

A highlight of the celebration was the attendance of descendants of the Chapel's founding family, including Narcissa Vanderlip and her brother Kelvin Vanderlip. Narcissa shared, "Our grandmother believed deeply in creating a place where all people could experience beauty, peace, and spiritual renewal. Seeing that vision celebrated 75 years later is both humbling and inspiring."

During the ceremony, representative Jennifer LaMarque from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn's office presented the family with a commemorative Los Angeles County scroll honoring their grandmother, Narcissa Cox Vanderlip, whose generous donation of 3.6 acres of land in 1949 made the original Wayfarers Chapel possible.

Sign up for our newsletter for future updates:
https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/newsletter/

06/16/2026

Help our friends St Francis Palos Verdes support this great cause!

St. Francis Military Outreach: Donation Drive
It’s time again for our quarterly Military Outreach collection supporting military families at Camp Pendleton and Fort MacArthur. These donations help stock the Warrior Warehouse and Airman’s Attic, where service members and their families can receive needed items at no cost.

Bring donations to the church office and see flyer for details.

Donation Drop-Off Event:
📅 Saturday, July 11
⏰ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
📍 Hawthorne High School











See less