Church architecture of four denominations in Los Angeles, California

For centuries church buildings have graced the landscapes of countries throughout Christendom. The styles of these buildings reflect the religious, cultural, and artistic traditions of mankind. In Los Angeles, California, numerous denominations of Christian churches abound, marking the imprint of man's religions on the landscape. Church buildings in Los Angeles and its suburbs display a vast assortment of architectural styles. An analysis of randomly selected church buildings of four denominations, built from 1912 to 1972, reveals several influential factors affecting the choice of architectural style. First, the influence of the historic revival styles in architecture is seen in examples of Christian Science, Congregational, and Lutheran church buildings dating from 1912 to 1937. Styles ranging from the Italian Renaissance Revival to the Spanish Colonial Revival are significant forms employed during the early part of the twentieth century. During this period the influence of member’s place of origin is evident in the church styles chosen for their new buildings in a new environment. Secondly, a transitional phase in architecture began after World War II which was characterized by a continuation of historic revival styles as well as by a turn towards contemporary forms. These contemporary forms in architecture are incorporated in the building designs of Lutheran and Congregational churches, revealing as well aspects of liturgical renewal which crossed denominational barriers during the last few decades. In addition, traditional forms of church architecture, such as the Byzantine style, are maintained by churches of the Eastern Orthodox denomination. Members of this faith, with its historical and theological roots in the Byzantine Empire, consistently build or renovate their churches in one or another of the Byzantine forms. This denomination is also an example of the influence of place of origin in the decision to build a new church in a manner similar to that of churches found in the old settlement. Whereas the Eastern Orthodox maintain traditional church architecture, churches of the Christian Science, Congregational, and Lutheran denominations continually adopt a variety of architectural styles for their buildings.