 |
| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
You will notice the large stained glass window in the front, but first, let me point out that a few smaller stained glass windows were along the sides of the chapel.
 |
| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
According to some sources, these windows rolled in on freight wagons in 1866, making them some of the, if not the oldest, stained glass in the church. (In a later conversation with an employee of the Church History Department, I was told that they were added in 1910, but I never got to clarify if we were talking about the windows on the sides of the chapel, or the large window at the front, which was certainly added around 1910. So there's some confusion on that part.)
The large window at the front was donated by Jane Gardner Miller. She was also one of the donors of the stained glass that sits in the Murray First Ward's chapel. Apparently, she had a moving experience upon seeing the stained glass and thinking of the words to the Psalm: "The Lord is my Shepherd."
 |
| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
This chapel was demolished in 2002. It was about 130 years old at that time! I'm sad that it couldn't be preserved--however, the large stained glass window was moved to a nearby building at that time. I'll show pictures of its new location in my next post.
 |
| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
An organ was installed in 1936, according to a list provided by the Reuter Organ Co. The pipe chamber filled the alcove that housed the original stained-glass window, so apparently they decided to add a backlit copy of the window inside the chapel, framed by facade pipes for the organ.
ReplyDeletehttp://database.organsociety.org/OrganDetails.php?OrganID=20272
Grant, thanks for that info. I didn't know the organ led to the stained glass copy, but I have seen pictures of the window flanked by the pipes on the interior, so it does make sense. Thanks!
DeleteThis is the chapel I attended as a youth, from about 1950 until 1972. At that time the front of the chapel was also frescoed. There was a nature scenic across the entire front, with two painted scrolls, one on each side. One read "The Lord is my Shepherd", and the other "I shall not want". The painting and the ornate moulding was heavily gilded, as were the decorative organ pipes on each side of a ornate grill work covering openings for sound from the actual organ pipes.
ReplyDeleteIn 1966 I helped repaint the chapel, and went into the area inside the front chapel wall where the organ pipes were situated. I could still see the straw or grass used in making the adobes in the inner walls. A outer wall of brick had been added years before. Many of the organ pipes were small wooden boxes.
When I was a teenager, an artist, Lura Redd painted a large mural of the organization of the first Relief Society in Nauvoo on the Relief Society wall.
At about the same time a very large mural of pioneer wagon trains entering the Salt Lake valley was also added to the north wall of a rebuild foyer area.
The building originally contained a balcony at the rear of the chapel which was converted to a large glassed off area "cry room" during remodeling.
Adjacent to the church on the east was a large log lodge, used for Junior Sunday School and Scouts. It had a stone floor, a large stone fireplace at the north end. Around the walls were stuffed animals - a bobcat, several pheasants, etc.
Steve, these are great details to know! I've seen interior photos but the frescoes had already been removed. I've also seen some photos of the mural of relief society, heavily deteriorated. It looks like it was a wonderful building.
DeleteI am trying to remember an old church I attended as a small child. Where was this located ? Address ?
ReplyDeleteThe building was on the south side of 3900 South, about 600 East.
DeleteMy grandmother, Naomi Hill Musser Wallin Iams Schiffman (1905-2007) wrote stories of her life in the 1980's. She wrote a "History of Millcreek Ward". I'm not sure where she obtained her information, but it is quite detailed. I have scanned the story, written in her own hand, with a picture of the stained-glass window, and uploaded it to Family Search. It can be accessed using the following URL: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWCF-8D9
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Thank you!
DeleteI attended this building as a young girl in the mid 1950's until 1977. The old log cabin to the east of the building was moved to the 'This is the Place Park' in Emigration Canyon. Before it was torn down I got a CD of the building. Many great memories attending the Millcreek 1st and then 3rd Ward. Rumor was told the President Brigham Young visited the chapel and somehow they sectioned the chapel off for classes. The interior side windows in the chapel had deep window sills due to the 4-5' deep adobe walls. The windows there were beautiful stained glass. The gold painted trim on the woodwork in the upper ceiling corners was beautiful. The wood benches on the interior were a light stained color.
ReplyDelete