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10th Annual Daffodil Tea
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Photographs by John Klycinski |
Invitation and Reservations
Tickets are now being sold for the 10th Annual Daffodil Tea. This exciting and sumptuous Mare Island event is scheduled April 24-25, the Last Weekend in April. Visit our new website www.DaffodilTea.info for comprehensive details.
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Photographs by John Klycinski |
History and Unique Value of St. Peter's Chapel
St. Peter’s was the first Naval chapel built on the West Coast, and it
is now the oldest Naval Chapel in the nation. It was built in 1901. The
Chapel was
in regular use by the Navy until the
Mare Island Naval Shipyard closed in April 1996. The Chapel is now rented for weddings and tours.
St. Peter’s is the repository for one of the finest collections of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows under one roof west of the Mississippi River. It is the largest collection of Tiffany in a single site in the West. Many of these windows and the plaques that adorn the walls and ceiling are memorials that link us to individuals and ships that served our country throughout its history. The Chapel’s traditional, simple design, its graceful proportions, its wood-paneled interiors bathed in glowing light from 29 stained-glass windows and its pastoral setting make it an inviting sanctuary.
Daffodil Tea Purpose
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Photographs by John Klycinski |
The purpose of the Daffodil Tea, founded in 1999 is to increase the public’s awareness of St. Peter’s Chapel and to raise money for the preservation and restoration of St. Peter’s Chapel and in particular, its Tiffany stained-glass windows. The proceeds of the first two Daffodil Teas funded new carpet and the purchase of new pew cushions for the Chapel. Beginning in 2004 funds donated to
The Campaign to Preserve and Restore St. Peter's Chapel are set aside to contribute towards major repairs to the more than 100 year-old building and its priceless stained-glass. Many congregations across the country raise money for the preservation and restoration of their church. These churches are fortunate to have defined congregations. St. Peter’s Chapel lacks this traditional support base now that regular services are no longer scheduled at the Chapel. It is primarily used as a rental hall for weddings, memorials and other private services. The volunteer organizers of the Daffodil Tea champion the National Historic Landmark Chapel and its Tiffany stained-glass collection because while it belongs to all Americans, it has no other advocate.
Daffodil Tea Organizers Document Decline of Chapel and Tiffany Glass Collection
In July 2005 the Daffodil Tea published a 275-page report that documented the deteriorated condition of the Chapel and its art glass collection and made recommendations for alternative management of the facility that would increase regular public access to the Chapel. Following the release of the report In October of 2005, 167 cracks were detected in the Tiffany collection by a stained-glass conservator. In March 2007, a follow-up evaluation by the stained glass conservator and restorer Reflection Studios (ReflectionStudios.com), revealed a shocking increase in cracks in the glass collection, with a total of 387. In June 2007, the Solano County Grand Jury issued its findings and recommendations regarding the care of and access to the Chapel. The City of Vallejo and its tenant manager have set goals for some changes in response to the Grand Jury report. The Daffodil Tea organizers believe that time is of the greatest essence. With the development of many new cracks likely and continued threats to the Chapel and its windows from various deferred maintenance, age and major restoration sources, there is no time to waste.
Informing the Public of the Urgent Need of the Tiffany Stained-glass Collection is Top Priority for This Year's Daffodil Tea
Therefore, the proceeds of this year's Tea will be used to inform the public about St. Peter's Chapel and the nearly 400 documented cracks that have accelerated in the Tiffany collection in desperate need of conservation. At the same time the Tea organizers will continue to raise funds for
The Campaign to Preserve and Restore St. Peter's Chapel.
The goal of the Daffodil Tea is to raise $1 million for the Chapel's
repairs and restoration. While funds from many sources will likely be
available for the preservation of such an important American landmark, strong local support serves to inspire and rally others. Donations may be made payable to Arc Ecology, noting that the donation is for
The Campaign to Preserve and Restore St. Peter's Chapel, P O Box 1573, Vallejo, CA 94590.
Click here for a
Daffodil Tea Reservation Form with additional Mare Island event
info for 2009 (PDF)
The Daffodil Tea is a project of Arc Ecology, a San Francisco based 501c(3) non-profit specializing in assisting communities in reuse of former military properties.
Please note: St. Peter's Chapel and mansion tours are available to any reporter or photographer covering this event. Call Myrna Hayes, 707-557-9816 or 707-249-9633 (cell) to schedule.
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