California Wildfires Destroy Monastery
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Nov. 18, 2009
The wildfires that have burned 20,000 acres in Southern California have injured 13 people, claimed 1,000 houses, and forced thousands to evacuate.
Now the "Tea Fire," which broke out on Nov. 13, has consumed a beloved Benedictine monastery founded in 1947 in Santa Barbara County. The six monks who lived in the mountaintop monastery of the Episcopal Order of the Holy Cross evacuated soon after the conflagration began, and no one was hurt in the fire.
"The brothers could see the fire advancing, so they're very lucky that they could pack up and leave," says Nancy Bullock, director of the Mount Calvary Retreat House, which attracted 2,000 people each year and was booked two years in advance. "The brothers are in shock and grief."
Officials say that the fire reduced the 20,000-square-foot retreat house to rubble Nov. 14, leaving only charred archways and an iron cross intact. The Spanish Colonial structure's 17th-century gold altar, a 1652 painting, and many other valuables, were lost in the flames. The Tea Fire also threatened the Montecito homes of celebrities Rob Lowe, Michael Douglas, and Oprah Winfrey.
This week, Episcopal leaders are meeting to discuss next steps. "While we appreciate people supporting us in rebuilding, we just have to find out if that will be what God calls us to do," Bullock explained. "There's a lot of loss in our community. Santa Barbara [population 100,000] is a small town, so to have 211 homes burn is a big loss."
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Comments
Submitted by Brian at: December 20, 2008
Wow! I hope some photographs survived, especially of the ancient painting and altar. I suppose this should encourage others to document their historic buildings and store the documents elsewhere.