Surrounded by a crowd of more than 600 people, including about 40 monsignors and priests, His Excellency, The Most Reverend John J. Cantwell, D.D., Archbishop of Los Angeles, officiated last Sunday [January 22, 1939]  morning at the dedication of St. Charles' Church, North Hollywood.

Following the ceremony, His Excellency presided at a solemn Mass which was celebrated by Rev. Noel Dillon, assisted by the Rev. James Rohan, of Oakland, as deacon, and Rev. Maurice Dee as subdeacon.

Deacons of honor to the Archbishop were Rev. Leo Murphy and Rev. Edmund Keohan. The sermon was preached by Right Rev. Msgr. Bernard J. Dolan, V.F., of Long Beach.

After the Mass dinner was served in the new rectory adjoining the church.

Designed to carry out the traditional style of the old Spanish Missions, the new St. Charles Borromeo Church, located in North Hollywood, was completed July 14, last year. To meet the spiritual needs of the Catholic population, sufficient property was purchased in May of 1937 for the erection of a completely equipped parochial plant, including church, rectory, school and convent.

Ground was broken at the new location on Moorpark Street near Lankershim Boulevard in December of the same year, and Mass was solemnly celebrated in the new church for the first time, July 17, 1938, by Father H. C. Meade, pastor.

Although it recalls the quiet dignity of the old missions, the new $50,000 edifice has been carefully provided with modern equipment to take care of the wants and comforts of the congregation. Among its many modern features the church has a combination heating and cooling system. Ventilation is managed by 10 electrically controlled windows high above the pews. By the simple expedient of pressing a button the windows open completely within 8 seconds.

The floor of the church, itself, of block hardwood triply braced with steel, slopes easily toward the spacious sanctuary, allowing all to witness the Holy Sacrifice.

Liturgical music is provided by a $1,650 Hammond electric organ. Two great sound rooms flanking the choir loft were especially constructed to enhance its tone and quality.

Perhaps the most predominant feature of the new church is its striking simplicity. Built in the form of a cross in a manner to conform to Catholic standards throughout the world, one's attention is caught and held immediately upon entering, by the great cross above the altar. The life-like crucifix is an exact reproduction of Spain's famed miraculous cross of Limpias, and the corpus itself came from Spain.

The massive oaken altar is a masterpiece of handicraft, its exquisite artistry making it blend perfectly with its liturgical surroundings. In the center panel just below the altar table are hand-carved wheat stalks and grapes, symbols of the materials for the Holy Sacrifice. Two other panels bracket it on either side with 10-inch letters giving the name of Jesus in Greek.

A star window with a stained glass representation of the patron of the parish, St. Charles Borromeo, has been placed above the entrance and seems to command the entire church.

Mr. Laurence D. Voilé, an expert in Spanish architecture, worked with Messrs. Barker and Ott in the designing of the building. William Petley was the builder.

TODAY - St. Charles Borromeo Gallagher Hall (Old Church)