Church of the Good Shepherd, Los Angeles

The Church of the Good Shepherd on North Bedford drive in Beverly Hills is a truly enchanting small Catholic temple.

Consecrated in 1924, this lovely church, which houses 600 worshippers, is the oldest in Beverly Hills and has been the local Parish church for many Hollywood stars, including Bing Crosby and Rudolph Valentino. It has also held funeral services for people such as Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper and Frank Sinatra. On a more joyful note, it has also celebrated the wedding of Elizabeth Taylor to Conrad Hilton and Mark Wahlberg to Rhea Durham, among many others.

The elegant building has a Spanish Colonial Revival facade, with white walls and terracotta roof tiles. It has two graceful spires topped with golden domes and many beautiful stained-glass windows. The three front entrances feature carved wooden doors set in archways, with a short flight of shallow steps leading up to the entrance. The church stands in well-tended gardens, with green lawns, cedar trees and cacti. There is a statue of Jesus Christ holding a lamb in front of the building.

The interior of the church is as lovely as the exterior, but quite simple with its double row of dark wooden pews and two small side chapels. Its many windows give the interior a light, airy atmosphere.