The Choir of St. John’s Cathedral will present Solemn Choral Evensong for the season of Lent, featuring music by Buonemani, Howells, Bridge, and Ešenvalds. The Rev. Michael S. Bell, Chaplain to Good Samaritan Hospital, will be the guest homilist. There will be complimentary valet parking starting at 4:30pm, and a warm reception following the service. All are welcome. Historic St. John’s Cathedral is located at 514 West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles.
I checked out Google street view of St. John’s. The church is lovely. So are the older nearby university buildings that look like 1920s Moorish revivals. But the overall landscape of gas stations, parking lots, Popeyes, Quiznos, 7-Eleven, and Metro PCS is so depressing.
Indeed. This was once one of the grand old neighborhoods of Los Angeles. But car-centric planning and racism took a toll on the neighborhood. There’s some good news to report. The church owns the gas station and is working to redevelop it into housing and retail. The city installed a protected bike lane along Figueroa (a flawed bike lane but it’s better than nothing). And an attempt to put a new freeway off-ramp right next to the cathedral was defeated. Unfortunately it will take many years to undo the damage to the neighborhood.