[2] For St. Thomas, three lots were purchased in August 1903 at the southwest corner of Pico Boulevard and Hobston Street.

The land acquired for St. Thomas was in a desirable and expanding residential section of the city then known as "Pico Heights" to the southwest of Downtown Los Angeles.

"[3]The first mass for the new St. Thomas the Apostle parish was held on August 16, 1903 in the chapel of the Immacualte Heart Convent in Pico Heights.

After circling the entire building, the bishop sprinkled holy water on the corners and lintels.

The original 1905 structure had "massive walls supported by buttresses, similar to the old cathedrals of the land of Castile.

[8] The formal lines of the front of the church were broken by two statutes and a spandrel bas relief over the main entrance.

The bas-relief depicted the Apostle Thomas touching the side of Jesus, and was designed by Hugh Cairns of Boston.

[6] The Los Angeles Times in December 1904 noted that the newly erected mission-style structure was "pleasing in effect and commodious in arrangement.

"[3] Upon the dedication of the church, the Los Angeles Times again emphasized the connection between the Mission style design and the traditions of the Catholic Church in California:"Like a link binding the vigorous present to the dreamy past -- the past of missions and their brown-habited padres establishing their adobe edifices for the worship of God, was the dedication of the beautiful mission-style Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, yesterday, at Pico Heights.