Disassembly Begins For Wayfarers Chapel To Save It From Destruction

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — Leadership at Wayfarers Chapel has begun disassembling the national landmark to stop further damage to the structure due to the ongoing landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Chapel closed to the public in February this year after inspectors found damage and signs of movement at the site. As the rate of the landslide continued to increase rapidly, at about 7 inches per week from March to April, Board Members decided the best way to preserve the community icon was to take it apart.

"The accelerating destruction of Wayfarers Chapel by the Portuguese Bend landslide complex is a looming tragedy felt by many. Our hearts go out to our many neighbors whose homes are threatened,” said Dan Burchett, Executive Director. “Wayfarers is committed to preserving our iconic chapel exactly as it has always been, either on the current site or a similar site close by in Rancho Palos Verdes."

Architecture and planning firm Architectural Resources Group, which specializes in historic buildings, evaluated the chapel and made recommendations for its preservation. The team proposed a careful disassembly, preserving as much of the chapel's original materials as possible to prevent further damage.

Each piece will be documented and preserved while the team evaluates options for reconstruction at the site or at a nearby site. The time frame for the rebuilding and reopening of the chapel is unknown, but leaders said they plan to rebuild as soon as feasibly and safely possible.

Many options are being explored for a potential replacement site as it could become impossible to rebuild in the original site as land movement hastens rapidly.

"Wayfarers Chapel has been a treasured part of our community for generations. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is committed to working with Wayfarers Chapel to ensure it can be quickly rebuilt on a geologically safe location somewhere within the city, if possible. We are pleased that Wayfarers is working with the National Park Service and the preservation experts at Architectural Resources Group to ensure the chapel will be preserved according to the highest standards for historic preservation,” said Mayor John Cruikshank.

The deconstruction and closure of the campus will cost the chapel between $300,000 and $500,000, officials said. To date, a GoFundMe fundraiser has raised $72,487 in community contributions to aid with the project.

The rebuilding effort could cost up to $20 million and further community-based fundraising efforts will begin this year, officials said.

At this time, all the buildings on the campus are a complete loss except the bell tower, meaning they could not be repaired if the earth stopped moving. The bell town isn't showing any visible signs of leaning and has no serious cracks, so its relocation is not as serious according to the chapel.

Due to the chapel's status as a National Landmark, it is required to carefully protect the integrity of the building.

"Wayfarers is working closely with historic preservation experts to establish best practices while relying on National Park Service guidance for our unique situation of an iconic landmark under threat due to extreme environmental conditions," officials said.