St. Francis by-the-Sea

St. Francis by-the-Sea American Catholic Church in Laguna Beach is distinctive in its mixture of architectural styles: Mediterranean Revival, Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine and Craftsman. It was constructed in 1933-34 from the rubble of the Long Beach earthquake by the Rev. Percy Wise Clarkson, the founder and first bishop of the church, and his followers. It was built to be a bishop’s church and has all the traditional features of a cathedral. The interior of the church measures 17′ x 60′ yet has the traditional church elements of sanctuary, chancel, nave, narthex, side aisle, and choir loft. There are two rows of pews each with three seats. It received some degree of national fame in 1984 when it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the “world’s smallest cathedral”. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.