Pentecostalism's Home Sweet Home. Photo: M.Imlay.
Believe it or not, this little Victorian in Los Angeles’ historic Filipino Town is widely recognized as the birthplace of Pentecostalism.
Yes, before Aimee Semple McPherson’s celebrity revivalism, the Spirit took hold of a small band of fervent religionists here at 216 N. Bonnie Brae in 1906, allegedly inspiring them to speak in tongues not heard since Apostolic Times. That, in turn, sparked a fiery Christian Charismatic movement that eventually swept the globe. (Today Pentecostals are thought to number more than 500 million worldwide.)
Azusa Street Revival Marker.
Back then the humble wooden house was situated in a neighborhood of saloons, liveries and train yards. Now the property of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the structure remains open to the public for prayer and tours by appointment. Tipped off about the shrine by Prose Parade blogger Linnea Hunt-Stewart, I decided to make my pilgrimage armed with only my camera and a 2006 article detailing the place, courtesy the now-defunct Los Angeles Times Magazine.
And a Brush With Celebrity…
By sheer coincidence, while I was snapping my dusk photos, up pulled a big Lincoln Town Car driven by TV’s former Divorce Court personality Judge Mablean Ephriam.
Source: Judge Mablean's MySpace
It’s been a few years, but I used to live several doors down from her in Silver Lake. As we reminisced about the old neighborhood, the judge explained that she and her two passengers were making a pilgrimage of their own. Turns out the COGIC is holding a massive Pentecostal women’s crusade at the Los Angeles Convention Center this week. In anticipation of the event, the three ladies felt impelled to spend a moment gazing upon the house where it all began.
Even this former Roman Catholic seminarian turned blogger could appreciate that. As far removed as my own religious experiences may be from Pentecostal fervor, as twilight settled on the tiny yellow house, I couldn’t help but feel at least a few stirrings of the historical spirit contained within its walls myself.
- Bonnie Brae House, visitations by appointment 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, (323) 733-8300 ext. 2326.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
:) WoW! Thanks this is a great piece if unknown LA History…rushing out the door in a few…going to have to look at more closely when I get back this evening. What caught my interest, was the street Bonnie Brae actually (I had always wondered but never took the time to find out WHO Bonnie Brae was)…I thought for a moment that The Revival was started by a woman named Bonnie Brae…then reading further realized it was just the address….
Wikipedia shows that the Revival originally started at an address on Azusa Street (wonder if that home is still around)… before moving to Bonnie Brae. Check out the vintage pic of the home on this wiki article :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azusa_Street_Revival
Thanks, Eric. Wikipedia is apparently mistaken on this point. The movement started in this house with a small gathering, which then relocated to Azusa Street. – MI
Fascinating bit of history. In this age of stadium churches and TV evangelists, it’s easy to forget how the simple seed of faith is often sown: “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matt. 18:20
Thanks for uncovering this gem!