The chapel at Walnut Village in Anaheim has been bringing people together as a community since before Disneyland opened its doors. Dedicated on November 21st, 1954, the chapel at Walnut Village is observing its 70th anniversary this year. The red brick Spanish Colonial style building stands as a testament to the community’s history and to how it’s more than simply a place to live, but a place that supports meaning, depth and purpose.
The community that is now Walnut Village was originally Walnut Manor, established in 1938 by Lutherans interested in providing care for older people. In 1999, Walnut Manor’s parent organization California Lutheran Homes merged with FACT Retirement Services and Pacific Homes Corporation to form what is now Front Porch Communities and Services.
In 2005, Front Porch decided to rebuild Walnut Manor, offering Independent Living and a continuum of care in the newly-designed Walnut Village – but the chapel remains. “I think it’s beautiful that Front Porch kept one of the original structures,” says Cara Giorgio, Regional Director of Sales.
Today, it serves multiple uses, including hosting performing arts groups and events. But its original purpose continues as a sacred space available for people of all faiths. Les Bishop, who has been the Director of Spiritual Care and chaplain at Walnut Village since 2021, leads weekly Sunday worship services. “It functions just like a regular church,” he explains. “I act as pastor. The Church Council meets once a month. People worship here on a regular basis. For many residents this is their church home.”
In addition to Sunday Protestant services, the chapel hosts communion led by Eucharistic ministers from one of the local Catholic parishes, services for Jewish High Holy Days, and serves as a quiet space for Buddhist meditation. The chapel also holds memorial services. “Residents may have another church, but they still want to do the memorial service here because their friends are residents here,” Les explains. Ministers from other churches are welcome to lead memorial services at the chapel, in consultation with the community.
Even though Front Porch is not a religious non-profit organization, providing spiritual care is something Cara believes sets Walnut Village and other Front Porch communities apart from many others. “I’ve worked in other communities and it’s not something that is common practice in senior living,” she says. “I think it is a wonderful extra layer of a support system for people who are going through a lot of transitions. What an asset to have a chaplain or a spiritual community to lean on!”
Spiritual care is about much more than services in the chapel. “We define the spiritual by the acknowledgement of the transcendent, and the awareness of the inner life – the human spirit – and the search for meaning,” Les explains. “It’s not me proselytizing. I don’t do that. It’s more about making room for someone’s faith and connecting in that regard.” Les believes it is important to remember and celebrate the chapel’s original identity, even though it holds a dual role in the community as its Chapel and Performing Arts Center.
The community’s chorale, musical theater troupe and the Chimers (a group that performs with ergonomic handbells) all rehearse and perform in the chapel, which serves as a space that brings these artistic endeavors and spirituality together. “The chorale is fantastic, and the Chimers are extremely important,” says Les. “People who are part of it consider it extremely important to their lives. They formed community there.” In addition to their own performances, the Chimers and the chorale take part in worship services occasionally throughout the year.
Unlike a common area where people come individually to do their own thing, the Walnut Village chapel serves as a place that brings people together to do things as a community – whether it’s worship or music or celebrating birthdays. “It’s more than a building,” says Cara. “It’s a gathering place that helps us create those connections that we’re craving as seniors. It’s not an ‘amenity.’ This is a 70-year-old beautifully preserved piece of architecture that we get to use day in, day out. It builds a sense of community that we’re all seeking, and I think we need to celebrate it.”
