Prayer Book Cross

The Prayer Book Cross, sometimes called the Sir Francis Drake Cross, is a large stone Celtic cross sculpture in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. Dedicated in 1894, it commemorates Francis Drake’s landing in New Albion at nearby Drakes Bay and the first use of the Book of Common Prayer in what would become the United States.

1906 drawing of the cross by the Reverend Dr. Clifton Macon (1869-1947)

Concept and support

The Cross was conceived as an acknowledgment that California, not the US east coast, was the founding location of New England and that several ecclesiastical “firsts” had been observed just north of San Francisco. The Cross acknowledges that Drake’s chaplain, Francis Fletcher, celebrated the first Protestant service, that of the Church of England, on or about Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, June 24, 1579 (Old Style). This corresponds to July 4 in the modern calendar.

The original plan was for the Cross to be placed three-quarters of a mile from the Point Reyes Lighthouse.[1] Instead, the Cross was built to coincide with the San Francisco Midwinter Fair of 1894. The Prayer Book Cross was paid for by George William Childs, a Philadelphia publisher, advocate for the Union during the Civil War and philanthropist.

Construction
The 1894 Prayer Book Cross put up at the opening of the Midwinter Fair

The Prayer Book Cross is constructed on a pedestal of stone eighteen feet square and seven feet in height. The Cross is 57 feet high. It is made of 68 pieces weighing 600,000 pounds. The arms are formed of eight pieces weighing 24,000 pounds each. The blue sandstone came from a quarry in Colusa County, California.[2]

Construction began on 4 November 1892.[3] The second arm stone was erected on 19 December 1893.[4]

Text

The text on the stone’s front is “Presented to Golden Gate Park at the opening of the Mid-Winter Fair January 1 AD 1894, as a memorial of the service held on the shore of Drakes Bay about Saint John Baptist’s Day, June 24 Anno Domini 1579 by Francis Fletcher, Priest of the Church of England, Chaplain of Sir Francis Drake, chronicler of the service.”

The text on the back is “First Christian Service in the English Tongue On Our Coast, First Use of the Book of Common Prayer in Our Country, One of the First Recorded Missionary Prayers On Our Continent, SOLI DEO SIT SEMPER GLORIA.”

Dedication

The Cross was dedicated on 1 January 1894. H. M. de Young, director-general of the Midwinter Exposition was the master of ceremonies. He introduced Bishop William Ford Nichols as the representative of the donor. Bishop Nichols pulled the cord which withdrew the flag covering the monument and thus presented the Cross to the commissioners of Golden Gate Park. Mr. W. W. Stow, Park Commissioner remarked on the large interest in the Midwinter Fair.

George Davidson spoke on the history of Drake and his landing at Drakes Bay.[5]

Later Use

Episcopal services have been held at the Cross on many occasions including 1906[6], 1908[7], 1909 [8], 1911 [9], 1912 [10], 1913[11], 1924 [12], 1931[13], and 1942[14]

Several Episcopal congregations held pilgrimages to the Prayer Book Cross. These included 1951[15], and St. Columba’s from Inverness in 1952.[16]

The 400th anniversary of the Book of Common Prayer led to the Triannual National Convention of the Episcopal Church being held in San Francisco with the Cross as a prominent feature.[17]

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See also

References
  1. "Point Reyes: Geo. Childs' Memorial Cross to Mark a Sacred Spot: Our Own Plymouth Rock". Sausalito News. 15 September 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  2. "Prayer Cross". San Francisco Call. 8 April 1904. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. "The Prayer-Book Cross". Daily Red Bluff News (Tehama County). 5 November 1893. p. 3. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. "Drake Memorial: The Second Arm Stone Put in Its Place: The Heaviest West of the Rocky Mountains: The Huge Cross Takes shape: It will be Completed and Ready to Turn Over by the Contractors on January 1". San Francsico Call. 20 December 1893. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. "Midwinter Fair: Drake's Cross". 2 January 1894. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  6. "Solumn Ceremony is Held About Prayer-Book Cross". San Francisco Call. 25 June 1906. p. 1. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. "Hundreds Bow at Great Rock Cross". The San Francisco Call. 22 June 1908. p. 14. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. "Hold Service at Prayer Book Cross". The San Francisco Call. 1 November 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  9. "Prayerbook Cross Memorial Service". San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram. 8 November 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  10. "Episcopalians Meet at Prayer Book Cross: Memorial Is Held Under Murky Sky: Sir Francis Drake is not a Pirate , Says Bishop". The San Francisco Call. 4 November 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  11. "Episcopal Churches Celebrate Service by Drake's Chaplain". San Francisco Call. 27 October 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. "Episcopalians at Prayer Book Cross". Santa Cruz Evening News. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  13. "AT ST. STEPHEN'S: Archdeacon Noel Porter's Visit Is Postponed". Mill Valley Record. 5 October 1931. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  14. "Feast of St. John is Observed Here". Santa Rosa Republican. 25 June 1942. p. 7.
  15. "Prayer Book Pilgrimage". Sausalito News. 7 June 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  16. "Episcopalian Pilgrimage". Mill Valley Record. 5 June 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  17. "St. Paul's Rector in San Francisco for Convention". Desert Sun. 30 September 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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