San Bernardino 1st Ward Chapel Interior
I was quite surprised by the interior of this building, especially the radial layout placed inside a rectangular exterior. What it provides is a nice space for support rooms behind the rostrum. All of the pews, pulpit, and even choir seats appear to be intact from the original design.
901 F Street
San Bernardino, CA
Built 1933; Sold 1975?
Architect: William Harber
Now Iglesia Cristiana Bautista
Map Location of Building
San Diego 3rd and 8th Ward Chapel Interior
I was blown away by just about every detail of this meetinghouse. Definitely one of my favorite mid-century buildings.
5299 Trojan Ave
San Diego, CA
Built 1962
Architect: Deems and Martin Associates
Map Location of Building
Beverly Hills Ward Chapel Interior
I believe this building is now called the Westwood Ward, but originally was the Beverly Hills Ward. Built several years prior to the Los Angeles Temple, this Chapel is located several blocks behind it. I love how the Sacrament table is not only centered in the room, but also brought forward as the closest element to the pews. The pulpit is pushed to the side as is the clerk table. This arrangement shows the importance of the sacrament over that of the spoken word.
10740 Ohio Ave
Los Angeles, CA
Built 1950
Architect: Harold W Burton
Map Location of Building
Paradise Ward Farewell
Yesterday I was fortunate to visit this building for the first time. It also happened to be the last day that worship services would be held. Even though it was Easter Sunday, members of the ward lingered long after services to reminisce, take pictures and just to sit and enjoy the Chapel for the last time while the bell in the tower rang outside for the small community of Paradise to hear.
As you can see, part of the building has already been removed exposing the original stone of the 1877 chapel. There was a nice display in the lobby with old photos of the chapel, some of the original stone as well as drawings of the new building to replace this one. Apparently they will save the bell to put into the new steeple. This bell was part of the original 1877 chapel. Also, some of the original stone will be used on the front elevation as a decorative feature.
Some of my favorite features of the building were the exposed stone, the railing in the lobby, the cry room in the balcony behind glass, the pulpit, the hand-painted flowers throughout the chapel, the abundance of natural light in the chapel, and the pews up in the cry room. I may be completely wrong, but if I were to guess, I would say those pews in the balcony are from the original building. The pews down in the chapel appeared to be from the 1952 addition. Rumor has it that some of the interior painting in the chapel was done by the same artist who painted scenes in the Salt Lake Temple Celestial room.
There was an attempt to save the building and have it be used as a community center that made it all the way to the First Presidency, but that request was denied. As a result the building that has stood here as a centerpiece for the town since 1877 will very soon be demolished.
9060 S 200 W
Paradise, UT
Original Chapel built 1877
Classrooms added 1902
New chapel addition 1952 by architect Lawrence D Olpin
Cultural Hall addition 1979
Scheduled to be torn down April 2012
Map Location of Building
Hollywood Stake Tabernacle Chapel Interior
1209 S Manhattan Pl
Los Angeles, CA
Built 1928
Architect: Pope and Burton
Map Location of Building
Heber 2nd Ward Chapel Interior
5 S 100 W
Heber, UT
Built 1915
Architect: Joseph Nelson
Sold 1960’s; Now St Lawrence Catholic Church
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 10th Ward Chapel Interior
420 S 800 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Gothic revival chapel built 1909
Map Location of Building
Randolph Ward Chapel Interior
Even though many people classify this building as a Tabernacle, I have not, because from what I have read, it has always only been a meetinghouse for the local ward. The interior of this building features one of my favorite set of pipes for an organ that I have seen. Very minimal and unusual in that they point downwards.
Built between 1898 and 1914, the first meeting was held in the main Chapel in November 1904 when the building was not finished, but usable. Another ten years would pass before the building was completed. Apostle George A. Smith stopped the work until all debts were paid which greatly slowed down the work. Smith would later dedicate the building on July 26, 1914.
The plaque on the building says it was remodeled in 1938. At this time an amusement hall was added behind the building while a baptismal font and furnace were installed in the basement of the original building. Total time for this remodel spanned from 1936-38. The amusement hall was demolished in a 1984-85 remodel and a large rear addition was built with a new cultural hall, classrooms and offices. The addition attached to the original Chapel at the rear and on one side providing a new entrance lobby and hallway to access the entry to the Chapel. The Chapel was also refurbished at this time.
15 S. Main
Randolph, UT
Built 1898-1914
Architect: John C. Gray
National Register of Historic Places
Map Location of Building
Bountiful Tabernacle Chapel Interior
A very interesting interior image of this chapel was taken in 1975. This chapel contained quite an extensive shrine to Joseph Smith as the focal point of the chapel until 1976 when the entire rostrum was remodeled by Carpenter and Stringham architects to the layout seen today. Other items of interest from the pre-1976 chapel is the sacrament table located to the side amongst the pews and at a 90 degree angle to the front. And at the left side can be seen large accordion doors that opened to a Recreation Hall which was added in 1925 by architect George Cannon Young. It is unfortunate that more of the original rostrum could not have remained. Almost every thing about the original is more interesting and beautiful than than what is there now.
55 S. Main
Bountiful, UT
Built 1857-63
Architect: Augustus Farnham
National Register of Historic Places
Map Location of Building
Idaho Falls 4th Ward Chapel Interior
605 North Blvd
Idaho Falls, ID
Built 1934-37; East Wing Addition in 1958-59; Sold 1993
Now Salvation Army
Map Location of Building
Centerville 1st Ward Chapel Interior
160 S 300 E
Centerville, UT
Built 1879
Map Location of Building
Washakie Ward Chapel Interior
Although the building was locked, one of the exterior windows was broken which provided a view to the interior. Obviously it is in rough shape, but I was quite surprised to see that the pews still remain in the Chapel.
Box Elder County
Washakie, UT
Architect: Edward O Anderson (probable)
Built 1937-39; Sold 1966; Currently vacant
National Register of Historic Places
Map Location of Building
Parowan 3rd Ward Chapel Interior
90 S Main
Parowan, UT
Architect: Miles Miller
Built 1914
Map Location of Building
Bear River Stake Tabernacle Chapel Interior
140 W Factory St
Garland, UT
Built 1906 by unknown architect; Remodeled 2000 by CRSA
Click for Map Location of Building
Garden Park Ward Chapel Interior
This is the only LDS chapel I am familiar with that does not have pews for the congregation. These beautiful theater-type seats appear to be original to the building. The St George Tabernacle also has individual seating, but I’m not counting that since it’s a Tabernacle. I am unsure of who the original architect of the building was, but the extensive remodel done in 2008 was exquisitely done by the local Salt Lake firm of CRSA.
1150 E Yale Ave
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1939; Remodeled 2008
Original architect unknown; CRSA architect of remodel
Map Location of Building
Wells Ward Chapel Interior
Unfortunately I couldn’t find an artist name for the beautiful artwork that serves as the focal point for the chapel. I would not be surprised if the piece were specifically commissioned for the building since it is so well integrated into the overall design. While visiting with ward members I learned that the rostrum almost met the fate of being remodeled into classrooms, just as the balcony was. Thankfully it was saved. One story stated that the Bishop put his foot down and would not allow this to happen. Another story stated that this was the ward Sis. Hinckley grew up in and she exerted her influence to ultimately save the chapel.
1990 S 500 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1920, Chapel built 1926
Map Location of Building
Wells Ward Chapel Interior
There’s a lot to love in this gem of a chapel in Salt Lake. During a past remodel, the balcony at the upper level and the overflow rooms at the lower level were converted into classrooms. Although not functioning, it is fortunate that at least all of these doors still remain, as can be seen across the back of the chapel. From a closer look, it appears that even all of the original hardware and glazing remains.
1990 S 500 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1920, Chapel built 1926
Map Location of Building
Paris Tabernacle Chapel Interior
51 S Main St
Paris, ID
Built 1884-1888; Dedicated 1889 by Wilford Woodruff and George Q Cannon
Architect: Joseph Don Carlos Young
Map Location of Building
Hollywood Stake Tabernacle Chapel Interior
Sadly, while I was there, the timing was not right for taking pictures in this magnificent chapel, but I was able to get a couple of skewed photos to at least get a feel for the space. One of my favorite features that also shows up in a Phoenix chapel by the same architects is all the colorfully-painted detailing on the dark wooden beams. The rostrum was fantastic, and uniquely included large red plush chairs centered behind the pulpit. At the rear of the chapel was a balcony which I also couldn’t get access to. I will definitely need to plan another trip to Southern California.
1209 S Manhattan Pl
Los Angeles, CA
Built 1928
Architect: Pope and Burton
Map Location of Building
Las Vegas 9th Ward Chapel Interior
3400 W Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV
Built 1961
Architect: Harold W Burton
Map Location of Building
Manila YSA Ward Chapel Interior
I’m not sure why so many of the pews have been removed, but there are a lot of chairs on both the right and left aisles that appear to be used in their place.
835 N 900 E
American Fork, UT
Map Location of Building
LDS ARCHITECTURE 