For many years, a small chapel existed in Canoga Park on Topanga Canyon. Called The Chapel in the Canyon, became a favorite site for weddings. The Chapel was located back from the street in rancho-like setting. The Western film and recording stars Dale Evans and Roy Rogers were important supporters for the church.
Interior of The Chapel of the Canyon 1960
Photo courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011 - (click on image to enlarge)
In August, 1964, a bus with children from the Chapel was involved in a crash in Tijuana, Mexico where the group had been on some sort of missionary activity. The daughter of the Rogers, Debbie was among the eight members of the church who died. The Chapel was sold and the group who worshipped there disbanded.
Chapel in the Canyon
9012 Topanga Canyon
Canoga Park, CA
14 comments:
Nice photo! My parents got married here in the late 60's and oh how I wish I had gone and taken some photos of the exterior prior to it's demolition for the current retirement home. I have their wedding photos which show some more of the interior area but I've only seen one of the exterior hanging in the Canoga Park historic museum but wish there was a way to obtain a print of it somehow.
Went to church there for a few years in the mid-60's when Roy Rogers & his wife Dale attended, then again in 1975-76. One CORRECTION: the bus accident occurred in the USA, about 6 miles south of San Clemente, near the San Onofre Bridge, as they were returning from an annual missions trip taking clothing, food and other supplies to a mission in Tijuana. Here's a link to a newspaper article with more details: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19640818&id=ypciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dqoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4704,3820526
My sister was married there in 1967, my family were members for years, especially after Dr White befriended us and took a special interest in me... and Dr White molested me in his office there in 1968.
I was married there in 1971. I need verirification that I was married there. Are there any records available from the chapel?
Start Bart,
Check http://www.disciplespswr.org/contact for contact information for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Regional Office,with which the Chapel in the Canyon was affiliated when organized in the 1950s. It may have severed its ties with the Disciples denomination before it disbanded, as Disciples congregations are autonomous, generally speaking, and many with a conservative bent broke away from the liberal Disciples denomination, particularly in the late 1960s. Even if it remained a Disciples congregation, it's iffy whether its records were preserved. Good luck.
My late wife of thirty years and I were married there in October, 1968. One of the best days of my life. Ron Juvinall
I was married here in 1964. My dear and only husband loved our choice. He was sent to Vietnam 9months later. He did mait make it home and we went on to have 5 children and raise them. He was the love of my life then and always will be.
I was a bridesmaid in a wedding there in the sixties. The photo looks spot on as I remember it!
I was married in the original small chapel, January 11, 1964. At the time there were two chapels, the larger of the two is where Dale Evans leaded the choir. It had a lovely staircase for formal larger weddings. I loved the little chapel and its beauty and so I married there. The service was short and I remember my grandparents complaining to rev. White that he should have said more meaningful words to brighten the service. I had a professional photographer that took several photos of the grounds, chapel and the brides dressing room. For me it was beautiful. Even though I had heard rumors later of the misconduct of the reverend and the subsequent bus accident, I remained very much blessed from the marriage there. It was a beautiful little church and services. Carol Schafer
Attended this church from 1969 to 1977 and was part of the group that left when the revelation of the proclivities of the pastor came to light. Although it operated as an actual church it was really more of a wedding Factory. On any given Saturday weddings started in the morning and ran through the day. There were gardens to conduct weddings as well as the main original chapel which faced on to Topanga and the bigger later sanctuary Zimmerman Hall which could hold bigger weddings. There was also a reception hall with full kitchen. The pastor lived in the parsonage which sat between the two buildings.
Does anyone know where the marriage records from this church may have gone? I was married here 41 years ago and would like a copy of the record.
One of the original buildings still exists. It was relocated to the Andres Pico Adobe in Mission Hills. See the Historical Marker Database website, “Lankershim Reading Room” - https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=200801
Does anyone know what the building was used for at the church?
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