Sacred Heart Parish of San Francisco, at the corner of Fillmore and Fell Streets, is a readily recognizable landmark from many vantage points in the City, overlooking the Western Addition and the Hayes Valley neighborhoods. Completed in 1898, Sacred Heart Parish represents the last ecclesiastical building still standing by architect, Thomas John Welsh. Unwilling to spend the money required to seismically retrofit one of the only two churches of its kind in California, the Catholic Archdiocese has closed Sacred Heart. The church was sold and earlier plans for its demolition put aside. Parishoners and others in the community seek to dialog with the new owner on the church's continuing preservation and its adaptive reuse as an ecumenical and community resource.
The images below afford a glimpse of some of the ornament and architectural detail in Sacred Heart of San Francisco we hope will never be lost. ›› For further information on how to get involved, please visit the Save Our Sacred Heart website.
Sacred Heart’s three white Carrara marble altars were designed by Milan-born Attilio Moretti (1852-1915) and unveiled to the public in 1910 for the parish’s Silver Jubilee. The main altar is 25 feet long, 37 feet high and weights 95 tons. The altars were carved in Italy by Gighli and Vanelli and installed by John Catto’s monument company under Moretti’s supervision. The painting at the center of the main altar was done by an unknown German artist working for Munich-based Fritz, Mayer & Co., best known for its stained glass. The same company created the two rose windows in the transepts in 1909.
Later in the 1920’s, the well-known early 20th century muralist Achille G. Disi created Sacred Heart’s ceiling art. As a result of the 89 Loma Prieta quake, the murals on the ceiling have been covered by protective netting. Also affected by the quake, the 1933 Hook and Hastings organ has remained unused in the choir loft for fear the vibrations might damage the ceiling. In the early 1980s, Keven McGown dedicated nine months to restoring the organ as a gift to Sacred Heart before succumbing to AIDS.
November, 2004
Robert Pritchard, Parishoner
Saving Sacred Heart: Arguments and Rebuttals
Alan Martinez, Friends of 1800 Co-Chair
Sacred Heart, St. Bridget and St. Thomas
Aquinas
September 10, 2004
Robert Pritchard, Parishoner
Sacred Heart Parish Needs Your Help!
Sacred Heart Parish in Perspective
A brief chronology of Sacred Heart's place in San Francisco history.
SF Chronicle - July 28, 2005
Sacred
Heart's Salvation: Lawyer Fred Furth pays $5 million for Catholic church
SF Examiner - July 26, 2005
High-flying
lawyer, philanthropist hopes to save city schools
SF Chronicle - May 13, 2005
Seeking
Mercy for Sacred Heart - Parishioners Challenge Archdiocese Plan to Sell
SF Chronicle - December 27, 2004
Final
Mass at Sacred Heart
SF Chronicle - September 27, 2004
Sacred
Heart Gets No Help from Above
SF Chronicle -September 25, 2004
Plan
to Close Church Lamented –
Sacred Heart Needs $8 Million in Repairs
SF Chronicle - September 20, 2004
Closure
Draws Crowd to Mass; Some Parishoners Hope for Miracle to Preserve Church
SF Chronicle - September 18, 2004
Parishoners
Decry Plan to Close Church.
