Granite Ward Exterior
The exterior was completed in 1905 allowing use of the building, but the interior was still being worked on in 1913. The building was not paid off until 1938, after which it was dedicated on July 16, 1939. Ward members would joke that the building was as enduring as the Salt Lake Temple since both took 40 years to complete. Originally a red brick building, this Victorian Romanesque Revival building was painted white around 1950. The floor plan is a simple rectangle design with a 1938 rear office addition. In 1965, a new and larger building was completed north of here. The original cornerstone was moved to the new meetinghouse and the Granite Chapel ceased being used as a religious structure. In 1966, sculptor Avard Fairbanks purchased the building for $2000 and used the building as his art studio until his death in 1987. His son now owns the building and uses it to store the works of his father.
9800 S 3100 E
Sandy, UT
Built 1903-05
National Register of Historic Places
Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 10th Ward Original Chapel
This room was the original chapel that was built in 1873. View is looking towards the main entry standing where the front of the chapel would have been.
420 S 800 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Original chapel built 1873
Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 10th Ward Detail
Here is a beehive over a window.
420 S 800 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Gothic revival chapel built 1909
Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 10th Ward Detail
Above each window in the chapel are unique pieces of art.
420 S 800 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Gothic revival chapel built 1909
Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 10th Ward Stained Glass
This beautiful glass goes all the way to the floor of the balcony, but the pew in front of it and the sloping ceiling above makes it difficult to get a photo of the entire work of art. Definitely worth a visit to see, though.
420 S 800 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Gothic revival chapel built 1909
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
Salt Lake 10th Ward Exterior
Of the original 19 wards in Salt Lake, the building to the right is the only original chapel remaining in the city, built in 1873. The Gothic revival church to the left was built in 1909. Also on the complex, at the far right is a school built in 1887. All three of these buildings are now connected into a single meetinghouse with the 1909 building serving as the Chapel and the original 1873 building serving as a large classroom or activity hall. This 1873 building used to be the Chapel but was remodeled many years ago into a Cultural Hall that even had a stage at one point. During a remodel in 2000, the building was almost torn down completely. The rumor is that Pres. Hinckley stepped in to save the building. Now, only the front wall and portions of the sides remain from the original building, but the remainder of the exterior was rebuilt as a replica of the original.
ADDED 10 Feb 2012: The steeple on this has always looked a little strange to me; too squatty and out of place. In looking at older photos, there was a taller steeple at the same location of the building in 1911 here, but by 1937 there was no steeple at all here. It appears that there was no steeple all the way until the 2000 remodel, when it was added back. With the steeple appearing to be part of the original design, I definitely appreciate the effort to restore the building, but I think I prefer the look of the building without one.
420 S 800 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Original built 1873
Gothic revival chapel built 1909
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 Entry Frieze Detail
1990 S 500 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1920, Chapel built 1926
Map Location of Building
Wells Ward Rostrum Detail
1990 S 500 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1920, Chapel built 1926
Map Location of Building
Wells Ward Exterior
The large beautiful window above the main entry into the chapel was originally visible internally at the back of the balcony.
1990 S 500 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1920, Chapel built 1926
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
Salt Lake Liberty Ward Stained Glass
A beautiful window containing Alpha, Omega, a beehive, a bundle of wheat, and two crosses.
445 E Harvard
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1908
Amusement Hall added 1924
Map Location of Building
Salt Lake Liberty Ward Exterior
Construction began April 6, 1908 and was completed six months later, with services first held on October 11, 1908. The plan is unusual for LDS chapels, being in the shape of a traditional Christian cruciform. Additionally, the stained glass windows contain crosses, beehives and the first vision. The grand exterior stair leading to the tower entry has been completely changed, as can be seen from the original image below. The building was remodeled in 1917 by architects Cannon and Fetzer. And an Amusement Hall was added in 1924.
Image from Deseret News dated 10 Oct 1908
445 E Harvard
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1908
Amusement Hall added 1924
Map Location of Building
Capitol Hill Ward Chapel Interior
413 N W Capitol St
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1928
Architect: Ashton and Evans
Map Location of Building
Capitol Hill Ward Exterior
413 N W Capitol St
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1928
Architect: Ashton and Evans
Map Location of Building
Whittier Ward Stained Glass
This window is located at the rear of the chapel facing the street where the entry is. The Amusement hall was built first, just after the creation of the ward in 1924. After the Hall was completely paid off in 1936, the building was dedicated, and work began on the Chapel. By 1938, the Chapel was completed, paid off, and dedicated by David O McKay. The design of this meetinghouse was done by Church Headquarters as one of the Department Projects, most of which were actually designed by Joseph Don Carlos Young.
1515 S 200 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Amusement Hall built 1925
Chapel built 1936-1938
Architect: Department Project
Map Location of Building
Murray 1st Ward Chapel Interior
184 E Vine St
Murray, UT
Built 1907; Sold about 1975
Now Mount Vernon Academy private school
Click for Map Location of Building
Lake Ridge Ward Pulpit
Two very similar buildings were built by the same architect in Magna during the 1950’s. The interior of these two buildings reflect a pronounced use of angles in the detailing, including in this fantastic pulpit design. I currently have interior pictures from this building and exterior pictures from the other one.
3151 S 7700 W
Magna, UT
Built 1950’s
Map Location of Building
Capitol Hill Ward Exterior Detail
413 N W Capitol St
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1928
Architect: Ashton and Evans
Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 8th Ward Sacrament Table
Unique two-tiered sacrament table inside of the 8th Ward chapel.
270 E 500 S
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1921
Architect: Cannon and Fetzer
Click for Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 13th Ward Exterior Entry
100 S 400 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1951
Architect: Clifford Evans
Vacant ~2008 to 2011
Land donated to Hope Lodge in 2011
Click for Map Location of Building
Salt Lake 13th Ward Exterior
The urban flight by LDS members out of Salt Lake City continues with the generous donation of this building and land to a local charity yesterday. The building has been vacant the last four years and will be demolished to make way for the Hope Lodge, a housing facility for cancer patients. Built in 1951, largely by the ward members, the building was one of three remaining meetinghouses in the downtown area of Salt Lake City, the others being the 17th Ward located behind the Conference Center and the 8th Ward located behind the Library. This Colonial Revival building was uniquely placed on the site at a 45 degree angle to the corner that it sits on.
100 S 400 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Built 1951
Architect: Clifford Evans
Vacant ~2008 to 2011
Land donated to Hope Lodge in 2011
Click for Map Location of Building
LDS ARCHITECTURE 