Saint John Vianney Chapel
In the 1920s and 30s, Balboa Isand became a fashionable spot for summering Southern Californians. At the time, the only Catholic church in the Newport Harbor area was the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the Balboa Peninsula. For weekend and summer visitors to the island, getting to the peninsula church could be problematic. So a small, 28-pew Catholic Church was built on a plot of land on Marine Avenue that was acquired from two local families. In August, 1941, the chapel was dedicated to the French priest St. John Marie Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. The 25 x 15 foot mural of angels above the entry was installed in 2001. It was created by mosaic artist Denis O’Connor who is best known for his murals for Home Savings banks. It was his last major project, taking two years to complete.
Balboa Island, Orange County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt