Built in 1923-24, the Kanab Chapel has a long history of renovations, but remains the physical center of the community.
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| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
This was the first official chapel in town. Prior to this building, they met in a hall, a bowery, and other locations. The town citizens donated their time, money, and labor for the building. It's built from local red bricks and stone from a quarry. A clock tower was above the building on the steeple.
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| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
The cornerstone was taken from Kanab Canyon. It has a landscape image in it, a unique touch for LDS cornerstones.
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| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
Heber J. Grant dedicated the building in 1928. In 1959, an expansion was made, including a brand new chapel. The original chapel area was converted into classrooms. The clocktower was moved to the new steeple of the expansion.
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| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
When the building became dated, the Church originally planned to tear down the whole thing and build a new Church. Kanab members asked that the original building be preserved. And so in 2011, the extension was torn down, and a brand new chapel was build to the west. Instead of tearing down the original chapel, they restored the exterior and converted it to a Familysearch Center. It opened in January 2013.
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The interior is bright and new, but has local relics and artifacts.
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| (Image Source: FamilySearch) |
As for the clock tower? It's now in the steeple of the new chapel next door.
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One thing I'm not totally aware of is the history of the bells with the clock tower. I'm assuming it had some type of bell that rang, as do the towers in St. George and Cedar City. Now, the clock tower is connected a 1997 Verdin Campana carillon, which plays bells on the hour (here, playing "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go"):
(Source: Sarah U., LinkedIn)
