St. Brigid Catholic Church 1615 Broadway San Francisco, CA

church.9333church.9334

It’s hard to imagine; such pristine architecture, combined with stunning stained glass work by Harry Clarke Studio, Dublin, Ireland, Seamus Murphy’s  sculpture work of 12 Irish apostles and Saint Brigid adorning the front entryway side of the building, Sculptures by Gladding McBean & Co., covering the exterior main doorway, John McQuarrie crafted the twelve 10-foot angel statues in the clerestory and lastly the Ruffatti Organ completed in October of 1983; why any person in their right mind would sell or close this treasured church.

church.9348

Somebody did.

In October 2005, the Archdiocese sold the church to the Academy of Art University, who wanted to demolish the church.

church.9351

church.9352

The Committee to save St. Brigid church is directly responsible for the current landmark status #252 encompassing the outside of the church, on October 24, 2006. The Committees final goal is to pursue interior Landmarking of St. Brigid Church. This final goal will ensure this church never again is slated for the demolishing block.

church.9357

church.9361 copy

church.9360 copy

church.9365

Since I could not go inside, I looked up pictures online of St. Brigid Church. More stunning than the outside. Wish I could have walked around myself and taken more pictures.

If you’d like to help the Committee to re-open St. Brigid Church here is the link:

http://www.st-brigid.org/

Then click on the lower right column on, How to Help.

Saint Brigid, patron Saint of Ireland, is associated notably with charity and justice. Irish hagiography makes her an early Irish Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several monasteries of nuns, including that of Kildare in Ireland, which was famous and was revered. The saint shares her name with an important Celtic goddess and there are many legends and folk customs associated with her.

St. Brigid center
St. Brigid center

 

 

 

 

4 Replies to “St. Brigid Catholic Church 1615 Broadway San Francisco, CA”

  1. That’s awesome you found out the history of the church. Cool they are saving it. That would be a terrible loss if they didn’t. Such lovely architecture.

    1. Maggie Addleman says: Reply

      Thanks honey! Wish we could have walked around the interior. Maybe next time. :>)

  2. Kathleen O’ Donnell Dybedal says: Reply

    My grandmother, Joan Baldwin O’Donnell was a part of this beautiful church after the 1906 earthquake! She was married there, and so were my parents, in 1949! Grandma also played the beautiful organ there until her death in 1974!

  3. Thank you for sharing your family history!

Leave a Reply