Established in 1885 in the outer reaches of what was then the Episcopal Diocese of California, the Church of the Ascension has a rich and unique history within our present day Diocese of Los Angeles. Through the efforts of a small but stalwart congregation, a wood framed church was built in 1887 on Baldwin Avenue , the town of Sierra Madre 's "main street." Within a year, this structure was completely destroyed by a fierce windstorm. Taking a lesson from the three little pigs, the galvanized members began to raise funds for a substantial stone church designed by noted architect Ernest Coxhead. The new church, dedicated in 1889, continues in use today and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Early in our history, the clergy and people of Ascension began to embrace many of the ritual practices of the Anglo-Catholic movement which had taken root in parts of the east and upper Midwest . By the early 20 th century, Ascension was one of the few parishes in southern California to feature a weekly Holy Communion, which is now the standard throughout the Episcopal Church, and to regularly use incense to enhance its worship. Much of the "smells and bells" tradition can still be experienced in our 10:15 Sunday service. In the late 1940's, a small group of Episcopal nuns of the Sisters of St. Mary came west to supervise a parish day school; they remained resident in the church's Rectory until the school was closed in the 1970's. The Gooden School, established shortly thereafter across the street from the church, maintains a close association with Ascension and uses some of the classroom space of our old parish school. Our historic church suffered major damage in a 1991 earthquake; exhibiting the same sort of determination as our founders had in 1887, the congregation stepped up to the fundraising challenge and completed repairs a year later. Today, the Church of the Ascension continues to honor its past while looking forward to the future. We are a congregation of young families and seniors, couples and singles, Democrats and Republicans.