Church of the Epiphany

Felix Zapata and other farmworkers holding candles at the Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, 1966. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Father John Luce (1930-2012) served as Rector of the Church of the Epiphany from 1965 to 1973 and he often invited César Chávez to preach from the pulpit and to give organizing workshops whenever he was around. He was brought in to improve the relationship between the Church of the Epiphany and the Mexican American neighborhood.

Farmworkers attending mass by Father John Luce at the Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, 1966. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

He immediately made visible changes, like decorating the church with papel picado and culturally relevant banners. He commissioned Chicana/o artists to reimagine the Episcopalian art, began celebrating Día de los Muertos, and erected a large portrait of La Virgen de Guadalupe by the main altar. He hired local Chicana/o artists to reimagine the religious motifs, to paint their skin from pinkish to brown.

Farmworkers are attending mass by Father John Luce at the Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights. A flag with the black eagle, the symbol of the farmworker movement, is visible next to the altar

Farmworkers attend mass at the Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, 1966

Father Luce also changed the soundscape of the church. The Church of the Epiphany was one of the first churches to play mariachi music in a Christian service in the country. Father Luce asked Natividad “Nati” Cano, the Mariachi Los Camperos leader, to play mariachi music during a church service. Cano said, “You are crazy Father, pardon me, but you can’t do mariachi in the church.” Father Luce replied, “We can’t, but you’re going to.” Mariachi music became a common music at the church’s activities. The guitar replaced the organ.

UFWOC volunteers and organizers celebrate after working all day collecting donations. They are in the Church of the Epiphany basement in Lincoln Heights, in Los Angeles, 1966. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Besides being recognized as the Los Angeles base for the UFW, the Church of the Epiphany was also the location of organizational efforts for the Blowouts, the Chicano Moratorium, the Brown Berets, the Latino support for the election of Robert F. Kennedy, and the location of the founding of the community newspaper La Raza.

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