Chapel of Memories Temecula

06/08/2024

Sweet and simple wedding at the Chapel. The decoration complemented the Chapel very well! It was the perfect day!

05/27/2024

05/11/2024

Here's your chance to see the beautifully restored Chapel of Memories during its Open House tomorrow from 9 AM - 1 PM.

04/09/2024

The patio was full of wonderful family and friends celebrating Randall and Kaleigh's wedding! The eclipse was just a bonus! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell!

04/08/2024

A beautiful ceremony for this beautiful couple! We wish you many years of love Letty and Craig!

For information on a chapel visit, see the link in the Comments.

03/19/2024

O CHAPEL, WHERE ART THOU?

In 1910, Father John J. Burri was assigned to Temecula in 1910 to serve the area as an extension of San Luis Rey Mission. Burri decided that the town needed a new church to accommodate the growing local Catholic congregation that typically met in school buildings.

Local Residents and the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino embraced the project. Local resident Macedonia Machado and the Santa Fe Railroad donated $1500 to purchase six lots at the corner of 6th and Front Streets for the building.

On December 4, 1916, Del Clark and R.J. Smith of Elsinore were told to begin chapel construction on February 9, 1917. The 1st National Bank of Temecula granted a loan of $1,200 to purchase building materials.

It was estimated that a stone chapel would cost $3,000-$4,000 and a wooden one $1,500. It was decided to build a wooden structure. The chapel measured 26 ft × 36 ft (7.9 m × 11.0 m) with dark brown stained clapboard siding. It had granite block front steps and a 7 ft (2.1 m) wide granite altar, all quarried locally and donated by the Church and Jean Laborde.

In 1988, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino sold the valuable chapel land to pay for the construction of a new, larger Church. Tony and Mildred Tobin purchased the chapel building from the church for $1. The Tobin’s donated the building to the Old Town Temecula Museum Society, to be moved to a new museum complex in Sam Hicks Monument Park

On May 5, 1989, contractors moved the Chapel to its new location. In November 1989, the society removed some old walls and rewired the building. Refurbishing the interior and meeting building codes was estimated to cost $50,000. To help offset costs, the Banning Rehabilitation & Counseling Center sent a 7-woman inmate work crew to paint the outside of the church.

Local businessman, Stan Hansen fabricated the stained-glass windows using glass from a 100-year-old St. Joseph, Missouri church building.

The City of Temecula eventually took possession of the building and renovated it as you see it today. The renovation occurred at the same time the Temecula Valley Museum was built and opened in 1999.

In the picture collage you can see the church at its original location on the corner of 6th and Front Streets, now the location of Soro’s Mediterranean Grill.

The upper left photo was taken circa 1948 with John Munoa driving Al Knott’s tow truck. You can see the church in the background down the street from the Palomar Hotel. The upper right photo is a scene from the sci-fi T.V. show, “The Invaders”. The pilot episode was filmed in Temecula in 1966 and first appeared on ABC on January 10, 1967. The lower left is a very early photo of the church, date unknown. The lower right photo was taken in the 1960s. Each church photo corresponds with how the church looked in the upper photos.

CHAPEL OF MEMORIES

This original church is now known as the “Chapel of Memories” and is managed by Temecula Valley Museum, Inc., a non-profit support group where weddings and other events are held on most weekends. Set in a beautiful tree-lined park with a large rose garden on the south side and a private patio on the north side, this charming site is available for weddings and events. You can find more information or contact the Chapel Coordinator by visiting the chapel website at www.chapelofmemories.org. (see link in the comments).

03/11/2024

A TEMECULA CHAPEL FILLED WITH MEMORIES

The chapel, originally St. Catherine's Catholic Church, has an interesting history, but the story behind the actual bell that hangs in the tower, and how it came to be there, is just as intriguing.

The church was built in the 1920s at Front and Sixth streets, near the current-day McDonald's. The original church bell was stolen in the late 1930s, former Murrieta mayor Kevin Walsh said. (Note: the original church bell was believed to be 200 hundred years old when the church was completed in March of 1917).

A round of golf, played in the late 1970s, led to the church getting the current bell. Walsh worked for Rancon Real Estate and was a parish member at that time.

"I was playing golf with Gen. Nichols up at March Air Force Base and I mentioned to him that it sure would be nice to have a bell for our church," Walsh said. "He said he had a friend, a Navy admiral, who might be able to help us out."

The admiral, stationed in Virginia, arraigned to have the ship's bell from the USS Georgetown, which was decommissioned in 1969, sent to Temecula to be hung in the church steeple.

During the Christmas season -- about 1978, Walsh recalled -- a box containing the 650-pound brass bell arrived in Temecula.

"On Christmas Eve, John Van Gale and his sons came down and installed the bell in the tower," Walsh said. "We were at a Christmas party at the Rancon building next door and all came out to look when the bell began to ring."

The bell remains the property of the U.S. Navy, Walsh said.

"The priests at St. Catherine's are actually the curators of that bell," Walsh said. "I doubt if they even know it."

The USS Georgetown (AGTR-2) was an intelligence-gathering vessel. Her crew of 19 officers and 257 men spent the 1960s cruising the waters of the Southeast Pacific and Caribbean doing what the Navy terms electronic intercept operations.

If another USS Georgetown is ever commissioned the bell will have to be sent back to the Navy to be used on the new ship, Walsh said.

In the late 1980s, the church was moved to its current spot at Sam Hicks Monument Park. St. Catherine's sold the building to the Old Town Temecula Museum for $1 when the congregation moved into their new church on Santiago Road.

In recent years, the small country church has been beautifully renovated and now hosts about 50 weddings each year, and a brand-new sound system.

SOURCE: John Hunneman - John spent 25 years as a newspaper reporter and columnist in Southern California. During this time he wrote nearly 5,000 columns and feature stories since 1990. He is currently retired. This story was originally published 20 years ago.

If you want to have wedding bells ring out during your wedding, you can find more information or contact the Chapel Coordinator by visiting the chapel website at www.chapelofmemories.org.

03/06/2024

The reception patio fits comfortably, 6 round tables with 8 to 10 chairs and a Sweetheart table with some room for a bit of dancing! This set up had a gift table to the right and a cake table to the left of the Sweetheart table. A buffet was set up near the kitchen and a DJ was on the porch! Such a fun day!

03/05/2024

The beauty of the Chapel is accentuated with sweet and simple decor. You set the theme for your wedding.

03/04/2024

The Chapel of Memories is perfect for the DIY Bride and Groom. The enclosed patio area is perfect for an intimate reception. There is an adjoining snack bar just behind the patio included with all reception packages. As we offer just the venue space only you will need to provide tables, chairs, linens etc., as well as a caterer. There have been many beautiful receptions over the years with just a few examples showing that personal touch which makes the day all that more special.

If you are interested in more information or contacting the Chapel Coordinator, visit the chapel website at www.chapelofmemories.org.

02/17/2024

THEN & NOW - Chapel of Memories (Former St. Catherine's Church)

St. Catherine’s Church was the first building built in Temecula to serve as a church. All others were school buildings used for church services and Bible studies. The once church has been restored to represent its early origin. The stained glass used throughout the facility is a combination of original glass circa 1880’s and new matching glass obtained from the original glass factory still in operation today. The pews are replicas based on an original pew that came from the church.

HISTORY

In 1910, Father J. Burri was assigned by the local diocese to serve the community. In 1916 he announced plans for the construction of a Catholic Church for Temecula. Fund raising began and six lots were donated by the railroad that were located at the northeast corner of Front and Sixth streets (where Soro’s Mediterranean Grill is today).

Construction began in February 1917 and was completed by the end of March. The 26 x 36-foot building (originally stained dark brown) cost $1200. To help pay off the debt, a huge barbecue was held on the Pauba Ranch near present day Vail Headquarters on April 15, 1917. Mahlon Vail donated a steer, and invited everyone he knew from Los Angeles.

The Lake Elsinore Valley Press reported, “The barbeque was a grand success. On the grounds were about 800 people and about 200 automobiles. An orchestra of four pieces furnished very excellent music for the dancing. The people were entertained by boxing and wrestling matches from men who came from Los Angeles for the occasion. Bronco busting by men from the Pauba ranch was much appreciated. Nobody went home hungry as there was food for everyone. It was grand time that will be remembered for many moons by all those present. Owing to the cold and threatening rain the crowd was not there that was expected, but nevertheless, there were some from Los Angeles, San Jacinto, Hemet, Perris, Elsinore and Oceanside. Refreshments of all kinds were served and it required 20 people to serve the food. At the close of the performance, Rev. J.J. Burni made a very pleasing address in which he thanked the entertainers who had come so far. Fifteen thousand feet of lumber was used to build the dancing floor, tables, benches and the boxing ring at the grounds where the barbeque was held”.

St. Catherine’s church continued to hold services until the 1980s when the new church was built on Santiago Road. It was purchased by Tony Tobin for $1 and moved to its current location in Sam Hicks Monument Park. The City of Temecula eventually took possession of the building and renovated it as you see it today.

CHAPEL OF MEMORIES

This original church is now known as the “Chapel of Memories” and is managed by Temecula Valley Museum, Inc., a non-profit support group where weddings and other events are held on most weekends. Set in a beautiful tree-lined park with a large rose garden on the south side and a private patio on the north side, this charming site is available for weddings and other events. For more information you can visit the chapel website at www.chapelofmemories.org. Requests for information can be made through the Contact page on the site.

02/13/2024

Love is in the air this time of year.❤️ If you are looking for an intimate venue with a budget in mind then be sure to take a look at the Chapel of Memories located in the heart of Old Town Temecula.

The chapel was built in 1917, has been beautifully restored and can accommodate up to 100 guests. You can visit our website at www.chapelofmemories.org to learn more about our offerings and to arrange a showing.

An Historic Wedding Chapel & Venue in Old Town Temecula