Cedar City First Ward: Baptismal Font

This baptismal font is no longer used, as it is no longer watertight. In spite of this, it has been preserved, as well as the mural which covers all of the walls (and ceiling!) of the room. It undoubtedly provided a beautiful environment for this sacred ordinance, and is almost reminiscent of the environment provided in temples.

Max Weaver did not do the original painting, but he continued to preserve and retouch the painting through the years, as recently as 2012. He passed away about a year ago.

This room is absolutely stunning, even if it is small and no longer used for the purpose of baptisms.

Cedar City First Ward: Pulpit Detail

 

Just behind the sacrament table is a door that leads to a small classroom that formerly served as a Bishop's office. It now functions as a regular classroom:

Cedar City First Ward: Chapel Interior

The wood in the chapel, as well as most of the building, is original to its construction, and from the local area. The pews have small bars that acts as footrests.

These lights, as well as the ones on the ceiling, are also original.

The triangular woodwork at the back of the chapel used to be one large window that acted as a cry room. It was removed in one renovation, but the cry room still exists--albeit as classrooms. They still have stadium seating, too.

The sacrament table also has interesting patterns on it, a result of piecing the wood together so it would fit.

Cedar City First Ward: Cultural Hall & Entryway

The cultural hall is directly under the steeple. Stage lights used to decorate the front.

This is the entryway, with the cultural hall on the left and the chapel on the right.

This staircase goes over the main entrance, providing access to where the chapel balcony used to be located.

Cedar City First Ward: Exterior Details

The clock in this chapel was taken directly over from the tabernacle. In spite of the fact that it's over 100 years old, it continues to keep time, and bells chime every half hour.

The rocks on this portion of the chapel are roughly symmetrical, which is an astounding feat. Notice especially the rocks above the door, which form a type of keystone.

Cedar City First Ward

Dedicated in 1885, the Cedar City Tabernacle used to stand at the corner of Center and Main. It was a beautiful building, even if it looked a bit awkward from the outside.

(Image Source: Church History Library)

Here are some interior photos I was able to find:

(Image Source: Southern Utah University)

(Image Source: Southern Utah University)

In 1932--amidst a bit of controversy--it was torn down. The government had offered to purchase the land to built a post office on the site.

Left without a place to meet, the Cedar City First Ward chapel was built to the east. It is also called the Cedar City Rock Church, for obvious reasons.

(Image Source: Church History Library)

This building still stands today. It just recently finished an extensive restoration project, and tours of the building are offered during the summer. I will be showing pictures of this building over the next few posts.

Liberty Ward: Stained Glass Details

This is the window on the south side of the chapel. It has a beehive and bundle of wheat.

On the north side is a similar window with a scroll and scriptures. Both windows have the alpha and omega symbols, as well as some crosses.

 The largest window, at the back, has a smaller inset of the First Vision. On both sides are beehives. These were actually originally crosses; in the 1950s, the Bishop asked J. Fred Brown, a ward member, to replace the crosses ('Catholic emblems') with Mormon ones. So Brown and his wife replaced the crosses with two beehives; one above a Sego Lily flower, and the other above a wild rose.

The First Vision is beautiful, despite its smaller size. It has the exact same figures as the stained glass depiction that was found in the Adams Ward (now in the Church History Museum; see at bottom). The Adams Ward was built in 1913--five years later--but I believe that these copies were ordered at the same time. Either that, or the Adams Ward bought a replica of this depiction, albeit bigger.