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Prayer Book Cross

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37°46′18.3″N 122°28′42″W / 37.771750°N 122.47833°W / 37.771750; -122.47833

1906 drawing of the cross by the Reverend Dr. Clifton Macon (1869–1947)

The Prayer Book Cross, sometimes called the Sir Francis Drake Cross, is a large stone Celtic cross sculpture in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California.[1] Dedicated in 1894, it commemorates Francis Drake’s landing in New Albion at nearby Drakes Bay and the first use of the Book of Common Prayer in what would become the United States.[2]

Concept and support

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The Cross was conceived as an acknowledgment that California, not the U.S. east coast, was the founding location of New England and that several ecclesiastical "firsts" had been observed just north of San Francisco. The Cross acknowledges that Drake's chaplain, Francis Fletcher, celebrated the first Protestant service, that of the Church of England, on or about Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, June 24, 1579 (Old Style). This corresponds to July 4 in the modern calendar.

The original plan was for the Cross to be placed three-quarters mile (1.2 km) from the Point Reyes Lighthouse.[3] Instead, the Cross was built to coincide with the San Francisco Midwinter Fair of 1894. The Prayer Book Cross was paid for by George William Childs, a Philadelphia publisher, advocate for the Union during the Civil War and philanthropist.

Construction

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The cross in 2020 surrounded by trees

The monument is constructed on a pedestal of stone eighteen feet (5.5 m) square and seven feet (2.1 m) in height. The Cross is 57 feet (17 m) high. It is made of 68 pieces weighing 600,000 pounds (270,000 kg). The arms are formed of eight pieces weighing 24,000 pounds (11,000 kg) each. The blue sandstone came from a quarry in Colusa County, California.[4] Construction began on November 4, 1892.[5] The second arm stone was erected on 19 December 1893.[6]

Text

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The text on the stone's front is "Presented to Golden Gate Park at the opening of the Mid-Winter Fair January 1 AD 1894, as a memorial of the service held on the shore of Drakes Bay about Saint John Baptist’s Day, June 24 Anno Domini 1579 by Francis Fletcher, Priest of the Church of England, Chaplain of Sir Francis Drake, chronicler of the service."

The text on the back is "First Christian Service in the English Tongue On Our Coast, First Use of the Book of Common Prayer in Our Country, One of the First Recorded Missionary Prayers On Our Continent, SOLI DEO SIT SEMPER GLORIA."

Dedication

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The Cross was dedicated on January 1, 1894. H. M. de Young, director-general of the Midwinter Exposition was the master of ceremonies. He introduced Bishop William Ford Nichols as the representative of the donor. Bishop Nichols pulled the cord which withdrew the flag covering the monument and thus presented the Cross to the commissioners of Golden Gate Park. Mr. W. W. Stow, Park Commissioner remarked on the large interest in the Midwinter Fair. George Davidson spoke on the history of Drake and his landing at Drakes Bay.[7]

Later use

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Annual celebration described: [1] Episcopal services have been held at the Cross on many occasions including 1906,[8] 1908,[9] 1909,[10] 1911,[11] 1912,[12] 1913,[13] 1924,[14] 1931,[15] and 1942[16]

Several Episcopal congregations held pilgrimages to the Prayer Book Cross. These included 1951,[17] and St. Columba's from Inverness in 1952.[18]

The 400th anniversary of the Book of Common Prayer led to the triennial General Convention of The Episcopal Church being held in San Francisco with the Cross as a prominent feature.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Carvala, Kinen (August 30, 2019). "Looking Back – GG Park's Hidden History Treasure Quietly Turns 125". Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon. San Francisco. The Prayerbook Cross in Golden Gate Park is quietly celebrating its 125th birthday this year.
  2. ^ ""PRAYER-BOOK CROSS" DEDICATED; Impressive Ceremony in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco". New York Times. January 2, 1894. Three hundred and fourteen years ago the English navigator Sir Francis Drake made a landing from his ship, the Golden Hinde, at what has since been known as Drake's Bay, and Francis Flitcher, a Presbyter of the Church of England and Chaplain of the Golden Hinde, preached the first sermon in the English tongue on the Pacific coast.
  3. ^ "Point Reyes: Geo. Childs' Memorial Cross to Mark a Sacred Spot: Our Own Plymouth Rock". Sausalito News. 15 September 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Prayer Cross". San Francisco Call. 8 April 1904. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ "The Prayer-Book Cross". Daily Red Bluff News (Tehama County). 5 November 1893. p. 3. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Drake Memorial: The Second Arm Stone Put in Its Place: The Heaviest West of the Rocky Mountains: The Huge Cross Takes shape: It will be Completed and Ready to Turn Over by the Contractors on January 1". San Francsico Call. 20 December 1893. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Midwinter Fair: Drake's Cross". 2 January 1894. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Solumn Ceremony is Held About Prayer-Book Cross". San Francisco Call. 25 June 1906. p. 1. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Hundreds Bow at Great Rock Cross". The San Francisco Call. 22 June 1908. p. 14. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Hold Service at Prayer Book Cross". The San Francisco Call. 1 November 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Prayerbook Cross Memorial Service". San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram. 8 November 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Episcopalians Meet at Prayer Book Cross: Memorial Is Held Under Murky Sky: Sir Francis Drake is not a Pirate , Says Bishop". The San Francisco Call. 4 November 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Episcopal Churches Celebrate Service by Drake's Chaplain". San Francisco Call. 27 October 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Episcopalians at Prayer Book Cross". Santa Cruz Evening News. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  15. ^ "AT ST. STEPHEN'S: Archdeacon Noel Porter's Visit Is Postponed". Mill Valley Record. 5 October 1931. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Feast of St. John is Observed Here". Santa Rosa Republican. 25 June 1942. p. 7.
  17. ^ "Prayer Book Pilgrimage". Sausalito News. 7 June 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Episcopalian Pilgrimage". Mill Valley Record. 5 June 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  19. ^ "St. Paul's Rector in San Francisco for Convention". Desert Sun. 30 September 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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