Consecration

In 1957, Archbishop Timothy Manning honored St. Brendan's by consecrating it in a three-hour service. Consecration raises a church to the highest order, which may never be transferred for common or profane use. St. Brendan's was one of only six churches in Los Angeles to reach that level.As part of the consecration ceremony, a relic of the 6th century St. Brendan was taken in a procession through the church and then sealed into the altar.

Location in Hollywood films

Located near the Hollywood studios, St. Brendan's gothic structure was a popular setting for movies. It was used as a location for "Our Gang" comedies and for the climactic scene in 1953's War of the Worlds in which desperate humans gathered to pray for a miracle inside St. Brendan's while Martian ships blasted away outside."In an apparent nod to the 1950s end of the world classic, the lead characters in Armageddon played by Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck were married at the end of the movie at St. Brendan's.The church was also used as a location in Fight Club, with the narrator attending a support meeting for cancer victims at the church.

New church built in 1927

The parish opened a parochial grammar school in 1915 on Western Avenue, which still operates at that location.In 1927, the parish built the large brownstone Gothic church that has been used by the parish for more than 80 years.At the time of the new church's dedication in January 1928, the Los Angeles Times noted that the "beautiful" new church had cost $400,000, and reported: "The new building is in the old English Gothic style and is considered one of the handsomest structures of its kind in California."Designed by architect Emmett Martin, the church has been called "one of the archdiocese's architectural gems."

St. Brendan Catholic Church Early History

St. Brendan's was formed as a new parish in 1914 under the leadership of Father William Ford.The parish was initially dubbed the "baby" parish, and in 1915 Father Ford told the Los Angeles Times: "The growth of the 'baby' parish of the diocese has been remarkable. New families are moving in every day. The whole community is alive and developing rapidly. The congregation is enthusiastic and hopeful of great things in the future

St. Brendan Catholic Church Info

St. Brendan Catholic Church is a Catholic church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, located in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles. The current Gothic style church was built in 1927 and has served as a location for Hollywood productions including "Our Gang" comedies and the climactic Martian attack in film War of the Worlds.