About St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila was built in 1860 on land donated by John O'Farrell, brother of Jasper O'Farrell for whom O'Farrell street in San Francisco is named. In 1872, the building was sawed in half, the rear portion moved back and a new section placed in the center in order to accommodate a growing membership. The steeple, surrounded by a cross, was added. At the roadside entrance to the church property hangs the 125 year old cast iron bell that was presented to the church in 1886 and later moved to the entrance location when a new frame was built to house the 850 pound bell. The parish is administered from the parish office at St. Philip Church located in Occidental.

In 1953, Ansel Adams immortalized St Teresa of Avila's Church in a photograph entitled "Church and Road". The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust granted to St Teresa's the publishing rights to "Church and Road" for a limited number of posters to commemorate the 1988 restoration of the historic site and to develop a perpetual Restoration Trust Fund to insure that St. Teresa Church will be maintained to enable residents and visitors to share the glorious heritage of the past. For information on purchasing this limited edition poster, please email the parish office at philip.teresa@yahoo.com.

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