The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed Grace Church, founded in the Gold Rush, and the Crocker mansions, pride of Nob Hill.

The Centennial Series Stay tuned throughout the year for the continuing story of Grace Cathedral

Yet among the ruins, Bishop Nichols' cathedral vision revived. On June 18, 1906, he met with banker and philanthropist William H. Crocker and his wife Ethel, Grace Church parishioners. The Crockers, in an act of remarkable generosity, agreed to give their entire city block as a cathedral site, stipulating the acceptance of four requests. First, other family heirs of Charles Crocker would need to consent to the gift. Second, the name "Grace",

William and Ethel Crocker as newlyweds

associated with so many happy parish memories, was to be used for the cathedral, and Grace Church's parishioners would form the nucleus of the new cathedral. Third, the cathedral would occupy the site of the William H. Crocker mansion, honoring the site donors and family memories. The Crocker children had been baptized there by Rev. Robert Foute, rector of Grace Church. Fourth, a courtyard on the new site would be named in honor of the family. All requests were met, but the last took time to be realized. In 1995, the San Francisco Foundation/Helen Crocker Russell Courtyard was dedicated, named for the youngest daughter of William H. Crocker. An historical plaque recognizing the Crocker mansions and the gift of the site was placed on the south transept's east buttress in 1979.

To fulfill the first request, Bishop Nichols took the train back East. On a pleasant summer's day, June 26, 1906, he met with the other heirs of Charles Crocker on board the Elsa II, the private touring yacht of Charles Alexander, William Crocker's brother-in-law (later memorialized by his widow's gift of the cathedral organ).

William H. Crocker mansion ruins

Sailing near City Island in Long Island Sound, the bishop broached the important question. Bishop Nichols wrote, "...as the yacht glided along under the sunny sky, with every prospect pleasing out over the water and the shore lines, the right hand of the Lord did seem to bring mighty things to pass for the future of our Diocese. After showing photographs, after the fire, a rough outline of possible buildings, etc., and explaining various points as they occurred to Mr. (George) Crocker, I went off with Mr. Alexander to look over the yacht, take the view from the bridge, etc., and was gone perhaps some twenty minutes. On my return, Mr. George Crocker said, "The Crockers make up their mind quickly, Bishop, and after consultation among ourselves, I am prepared to say that we are ready to make the gift of the home lot for the site of the Cathedral and other buildings as proposed!""

First sketch for Grace Cathedral

Bishop Nichols' rough plans showed the cathedral occupying the William H. Crocker home site on the west end of the block, and an inner court to the east surrounded by a quadrangle of administrative buildings. On the other side of the continent, Grace Cathedral had taken a giant step from vision to reality.

"Vision, Disaster, Gift," an exhibit relating to the 1906 disaster and the founding of Grace Cathedral is on display in the cathedral crypt corridor through 2007.

 
More Tales from the Crypt