Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves will share his observations on architecture from an unusual perspective through his book, The Sacred Architecture of Irving J. Gill (The Irving Gill Foundation, 2023).
In 2016, Hargreaves arrived from London to become the new rector of St. James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla. He came with a long-standing interest in architecture and was delighted to discover that the St. James bell tower and chapel were designed in the 1930s by Louis Gill (1885-1969), nephew of the famous proto-modernist architect Irving J. Gill (1870-1936). Hargreaves became fascinated by the work of the elder Gill, which led him to write his book.
Hargreaves will present Gill’s work in the broader context of the sacred architecture of San Diego. What makes this collection notable is that the city has outstanding examples of sacred buildings representing the major movements in 20th-Century architecture, including several examples that reflect the midcentury modern movement.
Some of these architects had national reputations, including Gill, Richard Neutra (1892-1970), and Charles Moore (1925-1993). Others, such as Robert Mosher (1920-2015) and Rob Wellington Quigley (b. 1945), are locally based. Taken together, they have created a wonderfully diverse collection of sacred architecture.
Hargreaves on Gill—Sunday, April 28, 2024; 1-2:30 PM Pacific; $5; go to https://www.sahscc.org/site/index.php?function=event_details&id=503
