We enjoyed revisiting Grace Cathedral, San Francisco on Nob Hill this afternoon. The Cathedral includes a replica of the Ghiberti Doors at the Duomo in Florence. The completion of the original Doors, in 1452, marked the beginning of the Italian renaissance.
We often attended Easter services at Grace, followed by brunch at Big 4 Restaurant at the Huntington Hotel. Chronicle columnist Herb Caen’s memorial was held at Grace Cathedral in 1997.
Jeff Pelline is a veteran editor and award-winning journalist - in print and online. He is publisher of Sierra FoodWineArt magazine and its website SierraCulture.com. Jeff covered business and technology for The San Francisco Chronicle for 12 years, and he was a founding editor and Editor of CNET News for eight years, among other positions. Jeff has a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's from Northwestern University. His hobbies include sailing, swimming, and trout fishing in the Sierra.
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6 thoughts on “Revisiting Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill”
Good memories! I was there once when I lived in San Mateo for 14 years. Have you read “Season of the Witch”? It covers the exact time I lived there, starting with the “Summer of Love” in 1957. It covers so much. Leo Ryan was my Assemblyman, then Congressman. I talked to George Moscone at Leo’s funeral. Five days later he was also dead. Ironically, the book ends with the 49ers going to the Rose Bowl.
A beautiful place. We spent a couple of hours there a few months ago, while visiting some old friends who live in the neighborhood. We were particularly interested in the Ghiberti Doors. Grace Cathedral has been a part of our life, merely by being Bay Area (Palo Alto) residents. The first service Jane and I attended there was in the early years of our marriage in the mid 1960s, during Bishop Pike’s tenure (although I don’t recall if he was presiding the first time we went). But I do recall feeling like a fool when — during that service — a nice lady standing to my right turned to me and said, “May the peace of God go with you.” I recall being amazed a her spontaneous expression of the spirit, and said, “Thank you!” A moment later, she jabbed me in the ribs, and said, “Pass it on!” Giggling softly (to myself) I jabbed Jane in the ribs, and said “Pass it on!” feeling like a complete fool, not for the last time in my long life. Years later, when Alan Jones was Bishop, I was much influenced by his book, “Soul Making: The Desert Way of Spirituality” (an oddly synchronous title, given Bishop Pike’s death in the Judean desert decades earlier). One of the most wonderful things about being inside Grace Cathedral is the tremendous sense of welcome to all spiritual traditions, signified by the various symbols and texts inscribed in the stone walls.
Thanks Jeff. Happy New Year to you and your family also.
Amongst my other connections to Grace Cathedral from once living in the neighborhood came an association with the remarkable Reverend Canon Sally Bingham, who is and has been a remarkable environmental leader in California and across the country. http://www.climateone.org/people/rev-sally-bingham
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Good memories! I was there once when I lived in San Mateo for 14 years. Have you read “Season of the Witch”? It covers the exact time I lived there, starting with the “Summer of Love” in 1957. It covers so much. Leo Ryan was my Assemblyman, then Congressman. I talked to George Moscone at Leo’s funeral. Five days later he was also dead. Ironically, the book ends with the 49ers going to the Rose Bowl.
Audrey
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A beautiful place. We spent a couple of hours there a few months ago, while visiting some old friends who live in the neighborhood. We were particularly interested in the Ghiberti Doors. Grace Cathedral has been a part of our life, merely by being Bay Area (Palo Alto) residents. The first service Jane and I attended there was in the early years of our marriage in the mid 1960s, during Bishop Pike’s tenure (although I don’t recall if he was presiding the first time we went). But I do recall feeling like a fool when — during that service — a nice lady standing to my right turned to me and said, “May the peace of God go with you.” I recall being amazed a her spontaneous expression of the spirit, and said, “Thank you!” A moment later, she jabbed me in the ribs, and said, “Pass it on!” Giggling softly (to myself) I jabbed Jane in the ribs, and said “Pass it on!” feeling like a complete fool, not for the last time in my long life. Years later, when Alan Jones was Bishop, I was much influenced by his book, “Soul Making: The Desert Way of Spirituality” (an oddly synchronous title, given Bishop Pike’s death in the Judean desert decades earlier). One of the most wonderful things about being inside Grace Cathedral is the tremendous sense of welcome to all spiritual traditions, signified by the various symbols and texts inscribed in the stone walls.
Don,
Thanks for sharing such wonderful memories of Grace Cathedral. Happy New Year to you and Jane!
Thanks Jeff. Happy New Year to you and your family also.
Amongst my other connections to Grace Cathedral from once living in the neighborhood came an association with the remarkable Reverend Canon Sally Bingham, who is and has been a remarkable environmental leader in California and across the country. http://www.climateone.org/people/rev-sally-bingham
Yes, thanks for bringing up Sally’s involvement. In fact, Grace Cathedral has been a gathering place for thought leaders and many other interesting people over the years: https://gracecathedral.org/people-initiatives/ https://gracecathedral.org/social-justice/