Church of Tonga

The Church of Tonga is situated in the San Antonio district in East Oakland.  The brightly painted church rises above the neighborhood and calls people to it.

Temple Sinai

Temple Sinai is a reform synagogue located on the edge of the Uptown area.  The congregation was established in the late 1880s after European Jews settled in the area subsequent to the Gold Rush.  This building was built in 1910 and proudly sits on the corner of Webster and 28th Street.  The most recent rains did not appear and we are now doomed to sunny skies for at least another week.  In the meantime, trees are leafing out and spring blooms are everywhere.  Linking to Skywatch Friday.

C is for Christ the Light

The Cathedral of Christ the Light is the seat of the Oakland Catholic diocese.  It's the first cathedral built in the 21st century.  An older cathedral, located in a different part of town, was damaged in the big 1989 earthquake and needed to be replaced.  The physical site at Lake Merritt seems to suit the architecture nicely.  The cathedral has been previously featured here.  Linked to ABC Wednesday. 

Mormon Temple

The Mormon Temple, by virtue of its position in the Oakland Hills, can be seen from most highways crossing town.  It's most dramatic at night.  Recently the skies have been clear and the temps chilly.  Linked to Skywatch Friday.

Taphophile Tragics: Cathedral of Christ the Light

Christ the Light, dedicated in 2008, is situated along the western shore of Lake Merritt.  It is the new seat of the local archdiocese.  Previous church homes to the diocese were damaged in the 1989 earthquake and were eventually demolished.

 

This new church is a very modern design.  Both inside and out it reminds me of a boat which I think is a reference to Christ the fisher of men.

In the tradition of old European cathedrals, however, parishioners can be buried in the mausoleum below the main floor.  There is room for 1300 niches for cremated remains and 1800 crypts for burials.  I'm unaware of any other church in California, except the old missions, doing this.  I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.  So far only a small number of these spaces are in use.  While the crypt walls look like marble, they are actually thin metal which have been treated to look like marble.  There are wall sections that look like onyx but may be glass, and are beautifully backlit. 

Many niches seem reserved for future use, which is probably a smart idea.  Those in use at eye level tend toward simple decorations with favorite personal items and informal photos sitting along side the ashes urn.

 

The curving paths lead you to the crucifix seen in the third photo.  There you find a previous Bishop of Oakland who was re-interred here in 2008.  Several crypts in this section are reserved for future bishops of the diocese.

Although a beautiful space, I couldn't help but be reminded that "end of life services" are, above all, a business.  Submitted to Julie's Taphophile Tragics where you'll find more musings on cities of the dead.

Skywatch Friday: Tuiaki he Lotu

The Free Church of Tonga is located on Fruitvale Avenue.  Most of the Tongans I know are Mormons.  This free church is an off-shoot from the Methodist church.  This church looks like a quiet oasis on a busy street.   This shot shows you more blue skies after the fog burns off.  The weatherman says we're in for a warming trend and no fog at night.  Yippee. For more of today's sky views, visit Skywatch Friday.

small church, big name

Another storefront church.  Isn't the name wonderful?

SOCC Sunday: not this time

Foolishly, I thought this was strictly a local campaign, especially since this group is based in little ol' Oakland.  Then suddenly three weeks ago it's on the national news!  Why do people keep trying to predict the rapture?  Seriously, what is the point?  Visit SOOC Sunday for presentations of more unaltered photos.

Skywatch Friday: East Oakland church

One of many small churches that line International Blvd. in East Oakland.  I've always been fascinated by these humble expressions of faith.  For Skywatch Friday you can see we have cloudy skies but little rain.   The sun is expected to shine brightly this afternoon.

church door

This church---The First Church of Christ, Scientist at 17th and Franklin---sits on a corner and muscles right up to the sidewalk.  I've always admired the door.  Only recently did I realize that the iron strapping includes initials.  Duh.  Not very observant of me.   This church was constructed in the early 20th century but I haven't been able to find the name of the architect.  I do know it has an original Tiffany window that was restored a few years ago.  I hope to get inside one day to photograph it.

West Oakland church

Churches come in all sizes, types, and locations in Oakland.  This one in West Oakland looks like it used to be an apartment building.  I'm fascinated by the names they select.  Their commitment is heartfelt and they are often an anchor for those souls who are most adrift.

Della Robbia in Oakland?

A detail at St. Leo's Church off Piedmont Avenue.  At noon and 6 p.m. church bells peal, which is always lovely to hear.

Truth Gospel Church

Storefront churches have always intrigued me.  They are touching offerings of comfort, faith, and hope and are most often found in the hard scrabble neighborhoods of our city.  They express the calling and longing of those who build them and those who attend them.  This church at Foothill and about 15th Ave. is housed in what looks like a former garage or tiny store.  I wonder what the Chinese translation actually says?

Grand Avenue church

This Seventh-day Adventist church is located on Grand Avenue very near the Lake.  I could find no information about when the church was built.  I liked the shadows cast by the afternoon sun.

Fairfax Avenue church

In the 30s and 40s many Oakland neighborhoods had their own small movie theater.  Over time, the movie distribution business changed and big multiplexes became the way to go.  There are only a couple of small movie houses left in Oakland.  So what happens to good, unused buildings?  They turn into grocery stores, other retail shops, and churches.  This one is located in East Oakland on Foothill Blvd. and Fairfax Avenue.  You can see where the light bulbs used to be in this marquee.  East Oakland has many storefront churches.  In fact, this block alone has three.

St. James the Apostle

St. James the Apostle is an Episcopal church founded in 1858 by the first Episcopal bishop of California.  The building may be the original on the site here in the San Antonio district and is old by Bay Area standards.  It's one of two churches in the neighborhood with tall steeples.  Masses are still offered three times on Sunday, one in Spanish. 

Corinthians Baptist Church

This Baptist church occupies the former original Greek Orthodox church that was on the site from 1921 to 1960.  This graceful structure located on Castro Street on the edge of downtown Oakland now faces the 980 freeway.

Mary Help of Christians

Founded in 1915 by the Portuguese community that worked in the nearby cotton mill.  This small clapboard church in the Fruitvale district continues to serve the local community.  It has a small park next door and a freeway in its backyard.

downtown church

Old Catholic church on the edge of Old Oakland.  Now offers services in several languages.  Oakland is said to have 100 language groups within its borders.

Cathedral of Christ the Light

This striking structure is a new addition to the architecture of Oakland.  It opened this year and is situated directly across from Lake Merritt.  The interior of the church feels like the hull of a ship.