Twentieth Ward (Salt Lake)

The Twentieth Ward chapel was built in 1924, but dedicated in 1927. It began as a basic L-shaped building, but has had additions since then. The detailed entrance is amazing:

 

The other entrances look nice, too:

This is one of the windows into the chapel. Some of the stained glass is original, and some was added in the 1970s. I have pictures of the chapel that I will be including soon.

Spring City Ward

I suppose the reason that the Spring City Ward Meetinghouse is so fascinating to me is because its breathtaking architecture--in all its beauty--is in such an obscure and relatively unknown place.

It is sometimes called the Spring City Tabernacle, although it never was a true tabernacle. But it has been noted that buildings that were exceptional in their form were justifiably called tabernacles, and that certainly applies to this building.

Sharon Ward (Orem)

Note: This post is one in a series that focuses on LDS architecture that is not historic, but that departs from standard cookie-cutter plans to become unique and beautiful in a different way. To see all of these posts, click here.

The Sharon Ward was constructed around 1958, because it looks like it was just completed when this photo was taken in that year:

(Source: Church History Library)

This was taken a couple of decades later:

(Source: Church History Library)

And here's what it looks like currently:

Obviously, it went through some major renovations in the 1960s or early 1970s. Most notably, it's clear that the chapel was widened. Perhaps it was originally too small. Also, the rock on the front is not original. I think I preferred the square theme from before--it went better with the windows--but I'm OK with this, too. Finally, the original doors looked a lot better--but at least they still have the details on the doorways.

The chapel is mostly memorable for its pipe organ:

The only other distinctive thing I could find in this building was the small pews used by the children in the Primary Room. It's hard to tell how small they are, but they are very small.

The primary room also had this miniature table in the back. I wonder what it was used for--perhaps it was part of the Junior Sunday School program, prior to the meeting consolidation in 1980.

Eighteenth Ward (Salt Lake)

Dedicated in 1883, the 18th Ward Meetinghouse was demolished in 1973. The hard work of preservationists meant that the building was dismantled and carefully reconstructed across the street from the Utah Capitol Building in 1980. The original parts include the steeple, cornerstone, window frames, doors, benches, pulpit, and stained glass.

Seventeenth Ward: Interior

The stained glass depiction of the First Vision in this chapel is stunning.

I have since visited this chapel again and got better photos of the window, which will come in another post.

The only other notable feature of this building was this painting in the lobby: 

Something tells me this isn't in the standard list of approved Church artwork. I'm curious about the history of this painting.

Granite Stake Tabernacle: Cultural Hall

This is the overflow area that divides the cultural hall and the chapel. The door on the left leads up to the balcony; the door on the right has some offices. The chapel is to the left of this picture; the cultural hall is on the right.

Orem 4th and 5th Wards

Note: This post is one in a series that focuses on LDS architecture that is not historic, but that departs from standard cookie-cutter plans to become unique and beautiful in a different way. To see all of these posts, click here.

The Orem 4th and 5th Ward Meetinghouse is one that I am well acquainted with--it's the meetinghouse I attended for most of my childhood and youth. It was constructed in the 1950s.

The meetinghouse is on a large hill in the neighborhood, and is visible from most of the adjacent blocks.

The chapel juts out from the rest of the building, so I'm used to a chapel with lots of natural light.

The building has its quirks. There is a large basement that is used by the young men, and the primary meets on the second floor.

The hallway that leads to all of the primary classes is directly above the chapel, though, so it's not uncommon for those in sacrament meeting to sometimes hear the thump, thump, thump of children running down the hall. Maybe not the most efficient building--but I just love it's unique character. This building helped me to gain an appreciation for LDS architecture.