Found on walls of Stanford Church

For today’s murals, we go back to Stanford University in California, this time to see the biblical images on the walls of the Stanford Church. Stanford Memorial Church was...
Stanford church
Stanford church
Stanford Memorial Church, Stanford.

For today’s murals, we go back to Stanford University in California, this time to see the biblical images on the walls of the Stanford Church.

Stanford Memorial Church was erected by Jane Lathrop Stanford in memory of her husband Leland Stanford. She wanted it to be open to all and hoped that it would cater to the spiritual needs of the university, says the official site of the university.

Stanford church was completed in 1903 is said to have been rebuilt and strengthened after the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989.

This church at Stanford University is open to visitors during weekdays and on Sundays. The attractions in here include the artwork on the walls, the stained glass windows, and the ornamental lights. The church also has a grand dome, one cannot miss.

Coming to the artwork on the walls of Stanford Church, I learned that the facade outside is a mosaic of tiles. As for the work inside, there are mosaics as well as paintings made to look like tiles put together. I hear the glass tiles used here have been put up at with some tilt to reflect the lights from the glasses that have golden embedding.

And the images you see inside the church include depictions of Jesus’s life, angels, people from the bible, and biblical traditions of  Jews and Christians.

The mosaics on the outside:

Stanford Memorial Church

The work inside Stanford church:

Now let’s go indoors and be mesmerized by the lights, the stained glass, and of course the mosaics that adorn the interiors of the church.

Stanford Church interiors

The large mosaics are said to have been created on large drawings in Venice and later brought here for installation. Other people who contributed to the grandeur of Stanford Memorial church include mosaic master Maurizio Camerino, stained -glass artistis Frederick and Charles Lamb from NY, designer Antonia Paoletti and several architects who worked on it at different points.

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Dee (Divya) Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. 📸 Loves tripping.🛣 Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!🥂😉
73 Comments on this post.
  • Subhadip Mukherjee
    11 April 2016 at 4:47 am
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    Quite unique, never seen a church with murals on the outside, the interiors are equally wonderful!!!

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:20 pm
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      Yeah, the murals outside are quite a sight. The moment you enter the quadrangle, the mere size of it and the colours grab all your attention.

  • rupam sarma
    11 April 2016 at 4:50 am
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    Awesome pics

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:20 pm
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      🙂
      Thank you, Rupam.

  • Prasad Np
    11 April 2016 at 5:24 am
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    Kind of amazed to know the murals were made in Europe and shifted to Stanford.. the colors look so real as if painted yesterday..

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:24 pm
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      I believe it was the large ones that were made there. It sounds like they came as tiles that were later put together here.
      And the colours, I suppose are nice and bright because they are on the tiles as opposed to paint on the walls. Whatever it is, it is quite a sight! 🙂

  • Sami
    11 April 2016 at 7:15 am
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    Beautiful church facade and the mosaic murals are outstanding. The interior is very pretty too.

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:24 pm
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      I agree.

      Thank you, Sami. 🙂

  • R Niranjan Das
    11 April 2016 at 7:21 am
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    Gorgeous art works, the glass paintings are brilliant! Lovely captures, Divya.

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:25 pm
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      So grand, alle?
      Thanks, Nomad. 🙂

  • Bikramjit Singh Mann
    11 April 2016 at 7:41 am
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    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:25 pm
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      Absolutely, Bikram. 🙂

  • s.c
    11 April 2016 at 8:51 am
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    I see its a complete mosaic outside so it survive the weather and time better. A really stunning mural.

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:26 pm
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      I'm sure.
      I guess it won't wear out like the paint-on-the-wall.
      Stunning it is.

      Thank you for stopping by, SC.

  • biebkriebels
    11 April 2016 at 9:15 am
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    There is a lot of work done there. amazing.

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:27 pm
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      Oh yeah! a whole lot. There's so much to look at and admire.

      Thank you for visiting. 🙂

  • Tom
    11 April 2016 at 10:42 am
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    lovely art work

  • Tanya Breese
    11 April 2016 at 11:25 am
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    beautiful images!

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:28 pm
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      Welcome here, Tanya.
      And thank you. 🙂

  • jaish_vats
    11 April 2016 at 1:40 pm
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    Beautiful art and nice pics

    • dNambiar
      11 April 2016 at 3:30 pm
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      It so, so beautiful. The church and the work on it are among the top attractions of the university.

      Thanks Jaish. Have a great week. 🙂

  • RedPat
    11 April 2016 at 9:00 pm
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    Wow – that is an incredible place!

    • dNambiar
      12 April 2016 at 7:39 pm
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      I couldn't agree more.
      Thank you for coming by. 🙂

  • magiceye
    12 April 2016 at 1:27 am
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    Awe inspiring work, well captured too!

    • dNambiar
      12 April 2016 at 7:39 pm
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      That it is.
      Thank you, Magic eye. 🙂

  • Nora
    12 April 2016 at 2:38 am
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    Your photos show it off so well! It is incredible. I never knew about this place.

    • dNambiar
      12 April 2016 at 7:41 pm
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      Thank you so much, Nora. The place and the artists who work on it should get all the credit. It IS incredible.
      This church is inside the Stanford University campus.

  • Oakland Daily Photo
    12 April 2016 at 3:39 am
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    Such a striking facade. The mosaic looks like it glitters in the sun. Thanks for contributing to this week's Monday Mural.

    • dNambiar
      12 April 2016 at 7:43 pm
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      It definitely is. I believe is was made to look that way; at least they have tried to do that inside the church. My homework tells me the tiles were placed with tilts so as to reflect light. What a great idea, right?

      Thank you so much for hosting. 🙂

  • Martha Z
    12 April 2016 at 3:42 am
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    Beautiful, it reminds me of churches in Europe.

    • dNambiar
      12 April 2016 at 7:44 pm
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      I believe the inspiration is from that part of the world.
      Welcome here, Martha. 🙂

  • joshi daniel
    12 April 2016 at 5:34 am
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    that is beautiful 🙂

    • dNambiar
      12 April 2016 at 7:45 pm
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      And you are right, Joshi. 🙂

  • Online Journalist
    18 April 2016 at 2:54 am
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    Beautiful pictures and apt explanation about the Stanford Memorial Church at Stanford University.

  • Online Journalist
    18 April 2016 at 2:54 am
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    Beautiful pictures and apt explanation about the Stanford Memorial Church at Stanford University.

    • dNambiar
      19 April 2016 at 2:26 am
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      Thank you. 🙂
      And welcome here.

  • Arti
    18 April 2016 at 4:09 am
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    Oh, I am totally mesmerized by the mosaics and the glass work and the paintings, Divya. You captured everything so well!

    • dNambiar
      19 April 2016 at 2:27 am
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      It's so gorgeous. Especially the inside of the church.
      Thank you so much, Arti.

  • MAHESH SEMWAL
    18 April 2016 at 4:30 am
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    colourful mind-blowing pics !

    • dNambiar
      19 April 2016 at 2:27 am
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      I pass on the credit to the all the hard work that's gone into making this church look like that. 🙂

      Welcome here, Mahesh.

  • Indrani
    18 April 2016 at 6:53 am
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    I love such facades. Beautiful interiors too.

    • dNambiar
      19 April 2016 at 2:28 am
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      It's absolutely beautiful both inside and out.

  • Arun
    18 April 2016 at 7:33 am
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    Awesome! Its fascinating to see the mosaics on the outer wall of the church, something which I have never seen till now. Very well captured!

    • dNambiar
      19 April 2016 at 2:30 am
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      Isn't it, Arun?
      If you look at the close up of the mosaic, you'll see how they used the tiles to make those creases and shades in the clothing. It's amazing!

      Thank you, Arun. 🙂

  • Rajesh
    18 April 2016 at 3:23 pm
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    Beautiful and colorful church.

    • dNambiar
      19 April 2016 at 2:30 am
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      Absolutely.
      Thank you for coming by, Rajesh. 🙂

  • purba chakraborty
    18 April 2016 at 5:02 pm
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    wow…beautiful captures 🙂
    The church looks so colorful.

    • dNambiar
      19 April 2016 at 2:31 am
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      Thank you Purba.
      It's breathtakingly beautiful inside this church.

  • Mridula
    19 April 2016 at 4:33 am
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    The murals and the interiors are truly grand! It must have been a delight to spend time there!

    • dNambiar
      20 April 2016 at 1:56 am
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      It was such a delight, Mridula. The first time I visited, my hubby was not there and I felt guilty seeing it all without him. And then there had to be a second time, for me. 😀

      This church really is quite a sight.
      Thank you for stopping by, Mridula.

  • Easwar Arumugam
    19 April 2016 at 10:08 am
    Leave a Reply

    Nice write with awesome pictures

    • dNambiar
      20 April 2016 at 1:56 am
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      Thank you. 🙂

  • Rahul Bhatia
    20 April 2016 at 6:54 am
    Leave a Reply

    Lovely, Divya:)

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 5:58 pm
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      Isn't it? 🙂
      Thank you for coming by.

  • ArchanaC Kapoor
    21 April 2016 at 12:56 am
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    Very unique indeed Dee and you captured it all so well.

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 5:58 pm
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      It is.
      Thank you, Archie. 🙂

  • umashankar
    22 April 2016 at 4:47 pm
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    The beauty of those murals makes me breathless for the desire to see them with my own pair of eyes. Looks like I will have to stay content in reflected glory from my friend Divya!

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 5:59 pm
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      Don't say that, you have to come this side and see this place and of course — the extremely charming San Francisco.

  • Ranjana’s craft blog
    22 April 2016 at 5:48 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Lovely Murals Dee…you have have god collection 🙂

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 6:00 pm
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      I seem to have clicked a lot of pictures of several colourful works of art. I'm glad that now there's a meme that gives me an opportunity to put them up.

      Thank you, Ranjana.

  • Leena Walawalkar
    23 April 2016 at 6:27 am
    Leave a Reply

    Thats some stunning work and you've beautifully captured it Dee!

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 6:01 pm
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      It really is.
      Thank you, Leena. 🙂

  • Nisha
    24 April 2016 at 5:08 pm
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    What a beautiful face it has! Never seen a church with murals on the exteriors. How do they maintain it is my question.

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 6:02 pm
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      Now you have. 😉
      These are the mosaic type. I guess they last longer when they are little tiles put together.

  • Ashish
    25 April 2016 at 3:05 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful Clicks… 🙂

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 6:03 pm
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      Thank you Ashish.
      Welcome here.

  • Haddock
    29 April 2016 at 11:40 am
    Leave a Reply

    Wow some lovely pictures, especially the inside of the church.

    • dNambiar
      2 May 2016 at 6:03 pm
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      It is a gorgeous church. A must see if one is in the San Francisco Bay area.

  • Gerald England
    17 January 2017 at 7:40 pm
    Leave a Reply

    wonderful murals

    • dNambiar
      17 January 2017 at 7:41 pm
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      I agree. 🙂
      Welcome here, Gerald. 🙂

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