The pulpit at the front of the chapel has some nice details. Behind it lies a beautiful mural.
It was painted by Henri Moser at the request of Bishop Tom Perry (father of the late apostle, Elder L. Tom Perry). However, it was not the first one he painted. The first one he painted depicted pioneers and Native Americans on the plains.
The mural was then replaced, apparently because some members of the congregation complained that a chapel mural depicted men wearing only a loincloth. The new mural depicts three important church history sites: the Susquehanna River (where the Aaronic Priesthood was restored) on the left, the Sacred Grove (site of the First Vision) in the center, and the Hill Cumorah (site of the gold plates) on the right.
The pulpit and wainscoting were originally limed (blonde). I was a member of the ward when the woodwork was sandblasted and stained this color. The original pews were removed in 1960. They were stylish--high-backed and black-stained.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! It would have been nice to see those original arrangements.
DeleteI am worried about this chapel--it's no longer listed as a meetinghouse on Churchofjesuschrist.org. The building may be threatened moving forward.