Francis Harvey Slocombe (1893–1947): Architect of Berkeley's "Little Chapel of Flowers"

Francis Slocombe grave and Little Chapel of Flowers

Section 66 Lot 1168

Francis Harvey Slocombe (1893–1947) was an American architect based in Oakland, California, active in the early to mid-20th century. He was best known for his work in the Storybook and Period Revival styles, and for his partnership in the firm Slocombe & Tuttle.

Slocombe practiced primarily in the East Bay, where he designed both residential and commercial structures. His work reflected eclectic revival styles popular in the 1920s and 1930s, often characterized by whimsical or romantic design elements.

In 1928, Slocombe’s firm was commissioned by mortician William Hull to design a new chapel adjacent to Hull’s Berkeley mortuary. According to local accounts, Hull’s mother provided Slocombe with a picture of a chapel from her home village in England and asked him to replicate it. Whether influenced by that request or not, Slocombe produced one of Berkeley’s most notable examples of Storybook architecture, known as the Little Chapel of the Flowers.

Completed in 1928, the chapel featured thick plaster walls, a curved roofline, and a distinctive bell tower. Its interior design included large arched dormers, stained-glass galleries, vaulted ceilings supported by timber trusses, and plaster walls tinted with terra-cotta pigments to create a warm glow. A stained-glass window behind the altar completed the design. The chapel became a central feature of Hull & Durgin’s marketing during the Great Depression, with advertisements emphasizing that elegant surroundings did not increase the cost of funeral services.

1650 Trestle Glen Road & 4697 Park Blvd in Oakland

The building was later designated a Berkeley Landmark (Landmark #320, 2015) and is regarded as one of the city’s most enduring examples of Storybook-style architecture.

In addition to the chapel, Slocombe designed other buildings in the East Bay, including a Tudor Revival residence for William Hull in Berkeley (1930). His architectural practice contributed to the region’s stock of eclectic revival homes and commercial structures.

Slocombe lived in Alameda, California, and was a member of the Bethany Gospel Hall. He died suddenly on April 26, 1947, after suffering a medical episode while returning from a golf match.

Sources: Oakland Tribune, Berkeley Architectural Heritage, Association, Edificionado, Berkeley Landmarks Commission