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The bell at the entrance to the chapel.
Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist blog. |
Recently,
The Devoted Classicist enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Miami area Episcopal church, St. Bernard de Clairvaux, in some terms the oldest church in the United States. The building of the Monastery began in Sacramento, Spain, in 1133 and was completed in 1141. Originally, the Monastery was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was named "The Monastery of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels." But when the Cistercian monk Bernard of Clairvaux was canonized, the Monastery was renamed in his honor. Cistercian monks occupied the Monastery until the revolution in the 1830s, when the cloisters were seized and sold to be used as a granary and a stable.
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The Cloister of St. Bernard de Clairvaux.
Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist blog. |
William Randolph Hearst bought the Cloisters and Monastery in 1925. The buildings were dismantled stone by stone and packed in hay for protection in 11,000 crates numbered for identification. But on arrival in the U.S., there was fear of a possible contagion of hoof and mouth disease and the crates were quarantined, broken open, and the hay burned. The stones were re-crated, but with no attention to the identification and sent to Hearst's warehouse.
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A view down a gallery from the chapel towards the main entrance.
Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist blog. |
Hearst had financial problems soon after this which forced much of his collection to be sold at auction. These crates remained in the warehouse until 1953, however, when more contents were sold in 1953 after Hearst's death. W. Edgemon and R. Moss bought the stones to reconstruct the Cloisters as a tourist attraction in the Miami, Florida, area. After 19 months and almost $1.5 million (reportedly 12 million in today's dollars), it was named "the world's biggest jigsaw puzzle" by
Time magazine.
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The garden at the entrance to St. Bernard de Clairvaux.
Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist blog. |
When financial difficulties caused the Cloisters to be put up for sale in 1964, Bishop Henry Louttit bought it on behalf of the Diocese of South Florida. But when there were financial difficulties after the reorganization into the three dioceses of Central, Southeast, and Southwest Florida, Col. Robert Pentland, Jr., a philanthropist and benefactor of many Episcopal churches, purchased the Cloisters for the parish. Today, the church of St. Bernard de Clairvaux is an active, culturally diverse Episcopal congregation in the diocese. Also it is open for tours as well as being a popular site for weddings and quinceaneras (the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday).
Knowing your expertise in church design and history, you must have really loved it! But it is not on the same island as Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour?
ReplyDeleteC.A.W., what a treat it was! Last Spring, I had asked Victoria Kastner, the curator at Hearst castle, about it; she knew about it but had never been there, so that made me even more curious. Despite the name, North Miami Beach is on the mainland, north of Miami.
ReplyDeleteYou do hide the comments post quite well!
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled beyond to find this treasure Mr Hearst pillaged! A miracle it was ever put back together!
What a lovely end to the story!
My next time in Florida; that is a must see!!!
P.B., thanks for your comments. Of course I do not know what the original in Spain looked like, but this reconstruction is certainly good looking. And the feeling of it as a Holy place translated as well.
ReplyDeleteLovely! What a stunning setting and thanks for sharing a fun bit of history and preservation of faith and funds.
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Thanks, P.V.E. The whole history of it is as much of the allure as the architecture.
ReplyDeleteThis is the other cloister meant for Wyntoon but never used...the other being Santa Maria de Ovila which is in parts within San Francisco Golden Gate park, in the process of being recreated for Trappist Monks at their vineyard abbey in Vina,Ca and the Portal now serves as the backdrop stage for the University of San Francisco amphitheater.
ReplyDeleteI have wondered for years what it would have looked like built...yours is the purest form we will ever get to see of the 2 cloister monasteries that were bought at great expense thru Arthur Byne who was the premier Spanish artifact dealer for Americans. He supplied George Washingtong Smith as well for the homes in Santa Barbara and Montecito.
What a treat to see...and above all, those lanterns with crystal drops on the Morton bay fig...DREAMY.
Thanks, T.S. I had found a reference to Santa Maria de Ovila and Arthur Byne but nothing more on Hearst and St Bernard de Clairvaux. Victoria Kastner mentioned the priory tithe barn being used at Wyntoon, but I did not imagine the Cloister being compatible with what I was picturing as a more Bavarian theme. I would LOVE to see (visit) the still-private Hearst retreat Wyntoon (called "Spitoon" by Marion Davies). Your comments are appreciated.
ReplyDeleteVictoria is a rarity...and THE PERFECT repository of Hearst/Marion history...not too mention San Simeon...I know you enjoyed meeting her.
ReplyDeleteYes, Wyntoon is dreamy...and a dream to visit.
Victoria is an incredible speaker. If any of you ever have the opportunity to attend one of her presentations, I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteI adore Plymouth Congregational Church in Coconut Grove even more. Smaller by far and less distinguished historically but heaven to the eyes.
ReplyDeleteAesthete, that church was on my list to see because of the facade; I can only imagine the interior because I did not make it there this last trip. And now your recommendation leaves me with even more regret. But I will be sure to see it next time. Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteIt is not Sacramento, but SACRAMENIA, province of Segovia in Spain. The church of this abbey, St Mary the Royal of Sacramenia, is still there.
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