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SAH JOAQUIN DISTOltlAH PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME XI APRIL - JUNE 1975 NUMBER 2

BUILDING OF THE NEW ST MARYS CHURCH IN STOCKTON CALIFORNIA

By BETTY McCOMB

When Father William McGough1 came to Stockton in 1911 a~llIligton Street As the years of his pastorate went by Ill wa~ assigned to one of the oldest Catholic churches in urhan decentralization and a desire for a more comshyCentral California SI Mar~s of the Assumption Church on jwlaiJle modern structure dictated the need for extensive

THE CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ANNUNCIATION now servinq as the cathedral for the Catholic Diocese of Stockton This photoqraph was taken durinq the course of

its construction sometime durinq the sprinq or summer of 1942 The church was opened for services on December 13 1942 Courtesy of the Rev Dermot OKelly

PAGE 7~ SA JOAQll~ HISTORlA

THE BUILDING OF THE NEW ST ~IARYS CHURCH (cont) llIllilIIOL alid Cl1largelllent 01 the existing structure or its (llllplel( rCplaltl1wnl In vie of the residential growth of Stockton in a northwesterly direction the decision was madt 10 build a IK church III the residential section 0 the (ll~ The tale or the old church whether to keep it or tear il dOlI Ii illid dispose 01 the site as to be decided after the completion 01 the new structure The general feeling at the tll1lt hm(er seemed to be that the new church would rq)lace the older one and almost immediately people tHgali IPttITlllg to til( new structurt as the ntI SI lar~ Church to distinguish it from tht existing church

TIlt architect emplo~ed b lIsgr JIcGough to plan the 1ll11middot (hurch Ia Henri A Minton of San Francisco The Ilrlll 01 Shepherd and Green of Stockton Ias select cd to be 111( gel1elill contractor in chargc 01 constructioll and H Ihkiall 01 San Francisco acted as the consulting (Iiglll(e A building permit lor $175000 Ias tiled with the

Building Insp(ctor of Stockton on JIarch 5 1941 The localioli of the building was to be the southwest corner of the intersection of Rose and Van Buren streets and ltl(Tording to Corbin Shepherd of th(gt contracting firm it Iould require approxilllatel~ onc yltar to complete

Tht funding lor the building came largely through the Pll(lnal eflorts of llsgr McGough Ihn was an astutc bll~II(SSIllHl and personally handled the financing of the ntll church In addi t ion to the use of funds derived from dwrch investments volunteers from the parish were olganiz(c1 to visit members to solicit additional funds Tile Jollsignor also contributed liberally of pcrsona I funds which 1( had accumulated through the years through wise

11I(sl11)(nt in stock etc The combined efforts of the lolisignol and the volunteer solicitors as well as a sllIllulated wartime eeonon1 allomiddoted the new church to be pal(l lor full blmiddot the time of its completion in December I Imiddotll

TIll Illlal slructural cost of the building came to qplllllalel $2B5()()O All interior furnishings stained glS II indo1 s marble and art work ere separate 1 Irac paid hryond the structural costs

Actual construction of the church began on Vlarch 5 t~qJ SIl~Cl the site cOlllprised a portion of the block on 1 middot111 SI lans High StilOol (nO1 Anllul1()atlOn School I

lId 1Igt(ltlll(1 tlil t(rlor appearame of the church was Ii h IIIP althllcclural slle 01 the schooL This I 1llTd cOIenlt building had bEPll built fifteen pars 1 lit 11 lilidlr the guidance ot JIsgr McGough The I d Ilil a ld hrlck lacing a personal prelerpl1ce of the 1 11 ill ltlui IS modified Gothic in design Thus thc til d il budt or rellllol(pd concrete with brick facing 1 ll(d b tI1 stOIlC and is modified Gothic in form ill d ltililll Tilt principal cxterior feature of the building is 1 ()middotIIgtlt hllll(1 to(r 011 its northeast corner Impressive

II tI I I tlw church is rich in well-placed and 1111111((1 d((aiicd ornament

Ill (k(oralllp deSign ot the church resulted primarily I I II 111 IIlta 01 Isgr lJcGough who worked closely with a rlill I lt HlIlI~ l1inloll Together they visited a 1111 hll 01 ollllr churchcs and the end result was a (II hilillllll~ lj till J]ollsignors pprsonal wishes and the 1111 hlllTII1 td from other churches in northern California II lIkliln adllall~ deSIgned thp reinforced concrete 11lillll 11](luciing the 2X3 inch tongue-and-groove roof liT 1111(il 1lt1 laid cel1lent asbestos shingles which have I appearan( of slate Lastly protective reinforced lt1 Ilrt used throughout the structure

Tn (Ii1 rucllon as not greatly affected by the coming I World War II Critical materials were on hand and liJllliil(d lor ue in the building before the wartime ban I 1111 rucl ion nnt into dlec Fortunately only subshySllllIlllaquolh 01 minor importance were necessary

Bu ttl Iar did dcla the completion of work for several 111ltgtlllil WIWll the work was about forty percent complete

VIEW OF THE CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION showing the north (front) and west sides of the immense structure

Courtesy of the Rey Denno OKelly

cI~rUlli(ln was still on schedule and it was hoped that dedlca lOll would be on Easter Sunday April 5 1942 But 1 Iii I he (Ill ranee of the United States in World War II in )(1111 htr 01 1141 the arrial of certain items such as thc [)Ill II ilS dpla)ed Also the work crew grew smaller as 1 ltII lh increased and unions enticed workers away with ( -ilollr work-I(cks and time and-a-haf pa~ over lr1 houl Tile elld result was an eight-lllonth delay in the Il plllioli 01 the structure

11 lliilltsmg tace of the wars ll1f1uellce 011 ils l I nlcllOli cOIi((rn the rtlllorting steel bars which were ltI II It( rOil Although Ihe Iee was on hand bfore the

SAN JOAQUIN HISTORIAN PAGE 75

THE BUILDING OF THE NEW ST MARYS CHURCH teont) wartime ban went into effect there was concern about public opinion as to why the steel was at the construction site during this time of war priorities Consequently the steel beams were buried in the adjacent school yard and then dug up as needed

ENTERING THE CHURCH

The exterior appearance alone does not provide an adequate idea of the grandeur of the church One must enter and observe Lime-stone steps lead to the narthex from West Rose Street The entry has a vaulted ceiling and a terrazzo floor At one end of the narthex is the stairway that leads to the choir gallery and another to the bell tower at the other end is the baptistry Personal papers of

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE CHURCH this one showing the front and east sides Partially visible in the foreground is the intersection of West Rose and North Van Buren streets Courlesy of the Rev Dermot OKelly

the Monsignor indicate plans for at least one or more statues in the narthex There is reference to three marble statues of St Peter St Paul and st Francis for the entrance vestibule A letter to Msgr McGough gives details of a statue of St Paul that would be done in Italy A donation is even recorded for this particular statue as well as donations for other unspecified statuary but to date this work remains undone

Tile baptistry has a vaulted ceiling and Caen stone wallsf A simple massive font of red Numidian marble is the sole furnishing Three lancet windows of stained glass adorn the baptistry walls The south window entitled Abraham and Moses portrays Old Testament scenes including Abrashyham reaching the Promised Land and Moses striking the rock in the desert All of the scenes are images of Redemption based on Old Testament history The window is in memory of Annie J Levey

The east baptistry window in memory of Peter May portras Christ as the Lamb of God and st John the Baptist saying Behold the Lamb This window entitled The Baptism is signed by the Cummings Studios of San Francisco and dated 1942

The theme of baptism continues in the north window with scenes of New Testament baptism Portrayed are Philip and the Ethiopian and Peter and Cornelius This window is in memorv of C B and Maria DAmico

The 92-loot bell tower continues the form of concrete laced with red brick decorated with cast stone There are wooden louvers at the top to permit the sound of the bell to he released The bell housed in the tower was cast in 1853 and brought to California by a sailing vessel by way of Cape Horn sometime soon after that It was hung in the Original St Marys Church on Washington Street about two ears later Msgr McGough had the bell moved to the new church after requesting permission from the archbishop in San Francisco Weighing 1500 pounds the bell required the services of eight men for a day and a half to move it from the old church to the new

When it was decided in 1944 to remodel the old st Marys Church instead of closing it many wanted the bell to be returned It was also at this time (October 1944) that the new SL Marys Church became known officially as The Church of the Annunciation and a separate parish was formed around it Msgr McGough was then transferred from old SL Marys to become pastor of the new parish and Father James OCltmnor was named pastor of St Marys Church Thus Father OConnor requested that the bell be reslored to his newly-remodeled church

When Msgr McGough was approached by Father OConnor the Monsignor explained that he had assumed that the old church would be torn down upon completion of the new one and had thus removed the bell He then promised to locate a new bell for st larys Church This compromise was not acceptable to Father OConnor who wrote to Archbishop Mitty of the Archdiocese of San Francisco The latter then wrote a letter to Msgr McGough requesting the return of the bell to old St Marys Because lsgr McGough wanted no damage done to the new church he inquired of the contractor Corbin Shepherd if the bell could be removed from the tower without damage to the church structure It was determined that removal ()uld involve tearing out one side of the concrete-walled lllwer The Monsignor then informed the Archbishop that if the archdiocese would furnish the dynamite the bell would indeed be returned to its place of origin There the issue has remained and the bell is still in the tower at the Church of the Annunciation

-ext to the door leading to the bell tower is the stairway to the choir gallery or organ loft The main front window 01 the church is located in this loft

This window was the work of the Cummings Studios It is a bold work of art with interesting tracery of stone outlining a huge cross Four Old Testament prophets who loretold the coming of the Messiah are pictured They are Isaias Ezechiel Jerimias and Daniel The window is a gift 01 William and Jane OConnell and Adolph and Catherine Liden

The window on the west side of the organ loft is in mem()r~ of Salvatora Chinchiolo Depicted here are St Alo~sius and SL Agnes

In the fall of 1941 Vlonsignor McGough looked into two possibilities for the acquisition of an organ From the E C Howe Company of San Francisco the Monsignor requested a price estimate for rebuilding the organ at the old st lalfs Church and installing this organ in the new church

PGE 76 SA O(RT lIISTORL

THE BUIIDING OF THE NEW ST MARYS CHURCH (cont) ri( (IlIIPlI slal(( tlie cosl Ilouid 1)(gt $247100 III a sllond

1(11(1 l1l IIOI C()lliPllil qllotpd a price of $489f)OO for a lall on(II The orgali at old SL Iarys wl)ulri be taken as a 11lI(11I lor $100000 Icalltlg all actual cost oj $389500 It IIIS rkllri(d ill Iarch 01 lH2 to scll thE Schoenstein Pipe ()rgan Iroll till old church 10 the E C Hm( Company as parlllI pallllcnt lor a nell organ

Ill( Ilell organ was buill b~ the Wicks Organ Company of Illgltland IIlil1ol the parent firm of the E C Howe Cl1Ipall~middot The organ was the last to be completed in the Lnl(d Slates before this industry was cOl1wrted to

wartime produelion After installation however the sound 01 11)( new organ was apparently found to be unsatisfacshyIon the tOile egress having been impaired by decorative PII)(S The original design was then changed to correct the prohlem

I] 1954 Dr Fred Tulan with the encouragement of Msgr William Burke pastor at that time3 redesigned the organ addlllg IllW European pipes The work eas carried out with 1he Iwlp of Melvin Lucchetti and Harold School The (mplet 1011 of the project was celebrated in 1967 with the presellt a ion of Marcel Dupres Concerto for Or~al1 pcrlormed b~ Dr Tulan with members of the Stockton Sllllpl1olll Ordwstra The three men involved in the I(buildi fig attached this plaque to the organ

III IelllOIT of Happy Days And III Tribu to this Glorious Room ( Llltnl This Voice 0 Speak WIIllIn TIll( Walls II Y(ar~ 10 Come hcli Uurs a 1( SlllI

TilE VE D TRASCEPT

Passing from the narthex to the main body of the church one becomes aare of the tremendous size of the structure This great church is entirely free from columns and the dfeet of height has definitelv been achieved

Arch ribs supporting the roof are of concrete and left lxposld in the church The forms used for the concrete ribs II (1( lined with coarse-grained wood to give the concrete thl lxtUIt of wood The ribs are painted black and (kcorat(d with simple patterns carried through the system of roof purlins or rafters

TIll Interior Inlils are finished with metal lath and piI-ltr So as to accommodate the decor there is often a lilad pacl of sCIcn to fifteen or sixteen inches in the lClil TIl( alls are finished in plaster above the main belt lOllr( ld are 01 Caen Stone finish below the belt course

Thl original plans called for concrete flooring throughout 11]( struclure but the cost of materials at the time 1](C(ssitaled a change in the plans Only the front and side pntrances as well as the sancluary have concrete floors The remainder is of wood construction with rubber tile laid in the aisles

Photoqraph of the NEWLYshyCOMPLETED CHURCH showshyinQ the west side of the structure The Annunciation parish recreation center buildshyinQ now covers almost all of the empty area in the foreshyQround Taken from West Rose Street Courtesy 01 the Rev Dermot OKelly

There is seating for 770 worshippers in the nave The pews costing $722000 were built by the American Seating Company of Grand Rapids Michigan Solid oak of Appalachian tlountain stock was the material used Before choosing this particular wood Msgr McGough had the lompanvs San Francisco office send him three sample blocks finished to resemble the stain used on the pews of San Franciscos Episcopal Grace Cathedral Such attention to detail was typical of the Monsignors interest in the construction Kneeling pads and pew fixtures were proided later

Four confessionals done in carved wood treatment are set into the side walls of the church two near the front entrance and one near each side entrance The open lattice work above the confessionals originally contained an amplifving sound system Above the confessionals and underneath each window appear the Stations of the Cross tll Ihe artist OmiddotSullivan

The leaded stained-glass windows of the nave are (xecuted in earlY Gothic style The windows are of antique glass in color and design that conform to sketches provided bv isgr lcGough The artistic design was done by Eoward Lapotka of the Church Art Glass Studios as well as Carl Huneke of the Century Stained Glass Studio in San FranCISco

The funding of the windows as well as the artistic por1aval apparently was personally handled by the Ion~igllor Donors were not consulted as to the story portravec in the window specific costs or general design lIe lIas assisted in some of the window design by a local nun Sister Peter The first window in the nave contained considerable green The Monsignor requested that the color qUillit b( improved to a richer blue Since the

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IIonslgnor often admind the windows 01 Grace Cathedral in San Francisco he probably took some ideas from that church

Without these beautiful windows this church would be little more than a bod without a soul-void of the warmth of life The intenstgt tones and colors harmonize the story of Christendom the essence of the existence of the building

The stained glass on the west wall shows figures of the apostles and also some of the Evangelists St Peter and St Paul are first to be seen from the front of the nave Related among the events of Christs life is Christ walking on the water St Peters doubt and Christs rebuke concerning Peters lack of faith The window is in memory of lrs VI J Bevanda St John and SI Luke two of the Gospel writers are shown in the window that was a gift of Mr and Mrs John and Ida Costa and Mr and Mrs Felix and Rose Costa The SI James window in memory of Josephine Costa is accompanied by the story Gf the multitude of fishes which caused the net to break and contains the words of Christ Fear Not From Henceforth Thou Shalt Catch 1en Also a part of this window shows St Andrew and the story Df feeding of the multitude stating He Blessed and Broke the Loaves This section is in memorv of Anthonv Costa

Finallvon the west is St Matthew in memorv of Elisa and Luigi Dentoni and St Phillip in memory of Frank and Domenico Dentoni

Saints canonized by the Church are depicted on the east nave windows The front window in memor of Patrick and Ellen Lynch portrays SI John Bosco The second section contains SI Mary largaret in memory of Thomas and Mary McGough the Monsignors parents St Catherine of Sienna is done in memory of R B Oullahan Here also is portraved Christ appearing before Pilate and Christ upon death Christs suffering is seen in the St Dominic window in memory of Marianna and Andrea Rivara Christ states ot My Will But Thine Be Done St Francis of Assisi is pictured with the scene of Christ ministering to the children Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me This window is in memory of Marie and Peter Arbios St Thomas of Aquinas commemorates the memory of Emanuel and Louisa Campodonico St Augustine and St Patrick are done in memory of Warren and Mary Robison Christs temptations in the wilderness unfold further the events in his life

Two magnificent stained-glass windows-one at each end of the transcept-glorify the entire structure There is also a window above each side entrance into the transcept The window on the west end of the transcept is in memory of the parents of Mr and Mrs Lorenzo Zerillo of Riverbank

Depicted in the window is the Annunciation of the Virgin The left side panel contains angels proclaiming the coming of the Christ Child The left center panel with an angel contains the words Hail The Lord is With Thee The right center panel shows the Blessed Virgin Blessed Art Thou Among Women Further proclamations concerning the coming of the Son of God appear in the right side panel A series of events from the early life of Christ are found below the four major panels Finally at the bottom eight women saints are portrayed The window above the west entrance into the transcept is in memory of Gironima and Stefano Sanguinetti and illustrates scenes from the life of Christ

The window on the east end of the transcept entitled the Coronation is in memory of John C and CYril J Iaurer Depicted here are Christ and his mother under the titles of Christ the King and lar Queen of Heaven Bplow is port raved eight women of the Old Testament The

IIlflml alJoe the east entrance into the transcept is in I1lCIlHn 01 thp parents of Henry Green and the parents of J ( Shepherd Portraed are scenes of the ministry of (im1 while on earth

BpIO the stained-glass windows on each end of the transcept are two niches each about 8 feet high containing tatups carved of wood Over each one are the symbols for tlw Crlek (lIers Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End The statues about 5 feet in height are done in oak Ilh a polchromed finish

The sta tues on the west wall represent St Therese of LIItux or the Little Flower and SI Anthony of Padua Both were donated by SI Theresas Group4 The statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of St Dominic stand along thp past wall The latter were donated by the ladies of the Annunciation Guild

)onograms carved into the wood appear above the doors on the inside of the transcept Over the east entrance are the letters 1 R taken from the Latin words Maria ic-gina Above the west entrance are the letters Ma di The meaning of the letters is not clear but may stand for the Ullin words later Dei5

SJI)E ETRA(ES ALTARS AlD THE SAlCTUARY

(rc-eting the worshipper at the east side entrance is a marble statue of the Pieta a gift of Mary E Maurer This

THE BUILDER AND FIRST PASTOR of the Church of the Annunciation the RiQht Reverend MonsiQnor William E McGouqh Assiqned to SI Marys Church in downtown Stockton (on Washinqton Street between Hunter and San Joaquin streets) in December of 1910 he remained in Stockton until his death in November of 1950 In October 1944 lhe Archbishop of San Francisco named Msqr McGouqh pastor of the newly-formed parish of the Church of the AnnunCiation where he remained until his death

is a miniature replica of Michelangelos Pieta in SI Peters Church in Rome Done in white marble the statue design

PAGE 78 S JOAQrl HISTORIAII

THE BUILDING OF THE NEW ST MARYS CHURCH (cont) was arranged by Richard W Jung of the Ecclesiastical Art Productions The window in this entrance is the gift of St Theresas Group Portrayed are the four Evangelists st Matthew S1 Mark S1 John and S1 Luke with Christ in the center

The west entrance contains wood carvings of Mary Joseph and the Christ Child a gift of Mr and Mrs Felix Costa The statues are a part of the original seventeenshypiece ativity scene donated by the Costas The entrance contains a window in memory of Joseph T Lusignan Portrayed are two scenes depicting the presence of the Holy Spirit

The side altars are made of escallette marble with marble pedestals for the statues of Mary and Joseph The altar of the Virgin situated to the left (east) of the main altar has a sandblast ornament of fleur-de-lis while the altar of S1 Joseph to the right of the main aitar has a sandblast design of S1 Josephs lily The statues are of white Italian marble St Joseph was donated by Mrs John Costa and Mrs Felix Costa S1 Mary under the title of Mater Dolorosa-The Mother of Sorrows was a gift of st Theresas Group

Again the personal involvement of the Monsignor in the construction of the church and in the choice of its appointments was apparent In a letter to the company that furnished these statues he wrote you made me two statues one of the Blessed Virgin and one of S1 Joseph They were very satisfactory There was some criticism

-- -

bullbull i1middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotIi==_ VIEW OF THE MAIN ALTAR and the intricately-designed

reredos with its recessed crucifix This photograph was taken in 1942 just prior to the opening of the church

Courtesy of the Rev Dermot OKelly

however about the marble being too white Is that the only marble you carry

The two stained-glass window panels within the side altar dedicated to St Joseph are signed by the artist Carl Huneke Depicted here is the concept of sacrifice from both the Old and New Testaments There is the giving of manna from Heaven in the Old Testament and the portrayal from the Jew Testament 1 am the Bread of Life This window is in memory of Richard and Margaret Lauxen

The panels within the side altar dedicated to the Blessed VIrgin are a gift of Josephine and Anthony Chinchiolo These two panels reveal the healing miracles of Christ including the healing of the sick girl the blind man the leper and Lazarus The forgiveness of Christ is apparent in the two illustrated statements Go and Sin 0 More and Whose sins You shall Forgive They are Forgiven

The communion rail of red umidian marble marks the line of the sanctuary The main altar is made of red umidian marble with a carved reredos In the reredos is a niche which frames a crucifix with a carved wood corpus Also to be found on the reredos are carvings of the s~mbols of the four Evangelists st Matthew is represented by the symbol of a man since he begins his Gospel with the human origin of Christ Mark is symbolized by the lion because of the Voice of one crying in the desert Since Luke begins his Gospel with the history of the priest Zacharias the beast offered in sacrifice an ox represents Luke The eagle symbolized John because he wings his flight beyond all things to the Eternal Word Centered in the reredos is a dove in flight representing the Holy Spirit

The reredos was designed by Vincent Buckley from the architectural firm of Henrv A Minton The work of comb-grained white oak with-a silver grey finsih was done by the E Hackner Company of LaCrosse Wisconsin The reredos was then taken apart and shipped to Stockton in a box car Upon arrival it was found to be covered with soot and there was much concern at first for the prefinished solid oak wood However upon removal of the soot the wood was found to be undamaged

The altar and reredos are placed under a Gothic vault from which is suspended a tester The tester or Baldachino was a liturgical requirement of the San Francisco Archdiocese It was necessary that the tester hang over the Blessed Sacrament This tradition had arisen in the early Church as a practical way to protect the Sacraments from the outside elements

The original design of the tester by H A Minton was er~ costly Since the ridge of the church is seventy-five teet from the floor the elaborateness of the tester would not be seen Therefore George Little of the Union Planing Iill simplified the design The tester is finished in fourteen-karat gold leaf

The altar was given by Mrs Carlotta Gianelli It was a memorial to her daughter Madelaine who had passed awav in 1940 Mrs Gianelli also had an Italian artist come to Stockton to do a painting or a fresco behind the altar but this was never executed

The window on the east side of the altar is in memory of l1ar~ and John Smith Portrayed are the Last Supper and the events leading to the Crucifixion A gift of Catherine and Bert Maurer the west window chronicles the crucifixion and death of Christ

The pulpit built by the California Church Furniture Company was originally placed on the right (east) side within the sanctuary Its original finish was white oak When the church became a cathedrat the Bishops throne was added on the right side This necessitated moving the

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pulpit to the left (west) side of the sanctuary A canopv was added over the pulpit and both were then finished in a dark oak stain

DEIHLHIO OF THE E CIICHCH Over 1000 persons attended the dedication on Sunday

December 13 1942 A solemn high Mass sung by Msgr llcGough marked the dedication and the Most Reverend John J llitty D D Archbishop of San Francisco blessed the new church

In his remarks the Archbishop noted that the completion of the church was not onl a symbol of religion but of America and what it stands for

As a symbol of religion and freedom the Church stands for the unalienable human rights that cannot be granted by Kings or Congresses-rights that come only from God This Church remains as a symbol of the freedoms of the Cross and the Flag in America

Henry A Minton the project architect wrote at the time of the completion of the church that It is no small task to

INTERIOR VIEW of the Church of the Annunciation taken on March 13 1960 two years before it became a cathedral Note the cruciform desiQn of the main body of the church (nave and transcept) The total seatinq capacity of the structure is about 850 persons

Photo by Miller Photography courtesy 01 the author

COlllplmiddott in thep days of bustle rush and change due to h( (I~ln(( of war a permanent well-studied and wellshy((lIIltI Church Such a Church is the new Saint Marys at Slndtoll That it was well-studied was due in great mldSllJl to the painstaking care that llsgr McGough gave (I CIlh llnturp and detail and to the cooperation he gave Iii Ir Iinton It was well-executed primarily due to the ((Illenl orkmanship provided by the builders the firm oJ Shlphprd and Green

Isgr leGoughs satisfaction with the finished product IS apparent when in a letter to a friend dated July 7 1947 Iw Wlote We hae built a new church and a very nice OIl In the orthest section of the town My church is probabJ the most beautiful in the diocese And in a letter to the Monsignor the chairman of the -nhdiocese Building Committee at that time the Rev p L Ran praised the structure in these words HI was very much impressed with the architectural beauty of your church I cannot remember seeing anything finer in the la of a Gothic Church

o a landmark for a third of a century this structure pncompasses an artistry and craftsmanship that is perhaps

PA(iE 80 ~ 10(1ll IIISTORI

THE BUILDING OF THE NEW ST MARYS CHURCH (cont) no longer feasible Thus it offers a physical heritage to the community surrounding it But far greater this building attests to the foresight and faith of the man CMsgr McGough) who personally attended to its development

Despite relIgious sociaL and cultural change St Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral stands today as a testimony to mans innate faith in God

INTERIOR AFTER MODIFICATION of the sanctuary followinQ desiQnation of the structure as the cathedral of the Diocese of Stockton The Bishops chair can be seen

EDITORS lOTES Monsignor McGough was something of a legend In his own time 0

Stockton A Cahfornla native he came to Stockton to relieve the ailing Father William OConnor who had served as the pastor of SI Marys for more than thirty years The Monsignor was destined 10 serve in Stockton a total of thirty-nine years before he passed away in a Sao FrancIsco hospital on November 8 1950

2 Reference IS made throughout the descnption of the interior of the church to Caen stone walls Caen stone is fine-grained limestone quarned near Caen in Normandy France It was used extenSIvely in European Gothic construction In the New SI Marys Church Intenor plaster was marked to simulate Caen stone

3 Monsignor William M Burke was the third pastor of the Church of the Annunciation succeeding the Very Reverend Lester Ehrmann upon the laUers transfer to San Francisco in June of 1955 Msgr Burke passed away on December 17 1974 at SI Josephs Hospital Stockton where he had been serving as chaplain since his retirement from pastoral duties at the Church of the Annunciation in 1971 He had served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Stockton from the time of its creaion in February of 1962

4 St Theresas Group was made up of twelve women from the church who raised money for church needs

5 Mafia Regina probably refers to Mary under the common title given 10 her by the ChurCh Mary Queen of Heaven Mater Dei would Iranslate to Mother of God in reference to Mary as the mother of Jesus

6 In February of 1962 the central California counties of San Joaquin Stanislaus Tuolumne Calaveras and Mono were detached from the century-old ArchdIocese of San Francisco These five counties were formed Into the Diocese of Stockton and the city of Stockton was declared liS episcopal seat The Most Reverend Hugh A Donohoe of

situated on the left side of the sanctuary with the pulpit now on the oppOsite (riQht) side

Courtesy 01 the Rev Dermot OKelly

Sar FrarCISCo was Installed as its fltst bishop and the Church Of the Anrurcatlon became the cathedral for the Diocese The name of 10e Church was then changed from the Church of the Annunciation to

Cathedral of lle Arnunclation In 1969 Bishop Donohoe was succeeded by the present Bishop of Stockton the Most Reverend Meclln J Guilfoyle

SA JOAQUI HISTORIAN The Quarterly of the

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC Published Four Times Each Year

PO Box 21 Lodi California 95240 Editor Robert Bonta

The San Joaquin County Historical Society a non-profit corporation meets the fourth Monday of each month except for July and August Annual memberships are Individual- $500 Corporate $800 and Junior $100 and include a subscription to the San Joaquin Historian Non-members may purchase individual copies from the Societys Secretary at $100 per copy The Society also operates the San Joaquin Count Historical Museum at Micke Grove Persons wishing to donate items should contact the Museum Director

~ SA JOAQll~ HISTORlA

THE BUILDING OF THE NEW ST ~IARYS CHURCH (cont) llIllilIIOL alid Cl1largelllent 01 the existing structure or its (llllplel( rCplaltl1wnl In vie of the residential growth of Stockton in a northwesterly direction the decision was madt 10 build a IK church III the residential section 0 the (ll~ The tale or the old church whether to keep it or tear il dOlI Ii illid dispose 01 the site as to be decided after the completion 01 the new structure The general feeling at the tll1lt hm(er seemed to be that the new church would rq)lace the older one and almost immediately people tHgali IPttITlllg to til( new structurt as the ntI SI lar~ Church to distinguish it from tht existing church

TIlt architect emplo~ed b lIsgr JIcGough to plan the 1ll11middot (hurch Ia Henri A Minton of San Francisco The Ilrlll 01 Shepherd and Green of Stockton Ias select cd to be 111( gel1elill contractor in chargc 01 constructioll and H Ihkiall 01 San Francisco acted as the consulting (Iiglll(e A building permit lor $175000 Ias tiled with the

Building Insp(ctor of Stockton on JIarch 5 1941 The localioli of the building was to be the southwest corner of the intersection of Rose and Van Buren streets and ltl(Tording to Corbin Shepherd of th(gt contracting firm it Iould require approxilllatel~ onc yltar to complete

Tht funding lor the building came largely through the Pll(lnal eflorts of llsgr McGough Ihn was an astutc bll~II(SSIllHl and personally handled the financing of the ntll church In addi t ion to the use of funds derived from dwrch investments volunteers from the parish were olganiz(c1 to visit members to solicit additional funds Tile Jollsignor also contributed liberally of pcrsona I funds which 1( had accumulated through the years through wise

11I(sl11)(nt in stock etc The combined efforts of the lolisignol and the volunteer solicitors as well as a sllIllulated wartime eeonon1 allomiddoted the new church to be pal(l lor full blmiddot the time of its completion in December I Imiddotll

TIll Illlal slructural cost of the building came to qplllllalel $2B5()()O All interior furnishings stained glS II indo1 s marble and art work ere separate 1 Irac paid hryond the structural costs

Actual construction of the church began on Vlarch 5 t~qJ SIl~Cl the site cOlllprised a portion of the block on 1 middot111 SI lans High StilOol (nO1 Anllul1()atlOn School I

lId 1Igt(ltlll(1 tlil t(rlor appearame of the church was Ii h IIIP althllcclural slle 01 the schooL This I 1llTd cOIenlt building had bEPll built fifteen pars 1 lit 11 lilidlr the guidance ot JIsgr McGough The I d Ilil a ld hrlck lacing a personal prelerpl1ce of the 1 11 ill ltlui IS modified Gothic in design Thus thc til d il budt or rellllol(pd concrete with brick facing 1 ll(d b tI1 stOIlC and is modified Gothic in form ill d ltililll Tilt principal cxterior feature of the building is 1 ()middotIIgtlt hllll(1 to(r 011 its northeast corner Impressive

II tI I I tlw church is rich in well-placed and 1111111((1 d((aiicd ornament

Ill (k(oralllp deSign ot the church resulted primarily I I II 111 IIlta 01 Isgr lJcGough who worked closely with a rlill I lt HlIlI~ l1inloll Together they visited a 1111 hll 01 ollllr churchcs and the end result was a (II hilillllll~ lj till J]ollsignors pprsonal wishes and the 1111 hlllTII1 td from other churches in northern California II lIkliln adllall~ deSIgned thp reinforced concrete 11lillll 11](luciing the 2X3 inch tongue-and-groove roof liT 1111(il 1lt1 laid cel1lent asbestos shingles which have I appearan( of slate Lastly protective reinforced lt1 Ilrt used throughout the structure

Tn (Ii1 rucllon as not greatly affected by the coming I World War II Critical materials were on hand and liJllliil(d lor ue in the building before the wartime ban I 1111 rucl ion nnt into dlec Fortunately only subshySllllIlllaquolh 01 minor importance were necessary

Bu ttl Iar did dcla the completion of work for several 111ltgtlllil WIWll the work was about forty percent complete

VIEW OF THE CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION showing the north (front) and west sides of the immense structure

Courtesy of the Rey Denno OKelly

cI~rUlli(ln was still on schedule and it was hoped that dedlca lOll would be on Easter Sunday April 5 1942 But 1 Iii I he (Ill ranee of the United States in World War II in )(1111 htr 01 1141 the arrial of certain items such as thc [)Ill II ilS dpla)ed Also the work crew grew smaller as 1 ltII lh increased and unions enticed workers away with ( -ilollr work-I(cks and time and-a-haf pa~ over lr1 houl Tile elld result was an eight-lllonth delay in the Il plllioli 01 the structure

11 lliilltsmg tace of the wars ll1f1uellce 011 ils l I nlcllOli cOIi((rn the rtlllorting steel bars which were ltI II It( rOil Although Ihe Iee was on hand bfore the



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