Brigham City Tabernacle: Tower Detail

Brigham City Third Ward Chapel: Interior

While there are differences--most notably, immediate access to the basement containing classrooms on either sides of the pulpit--this chapel is very similar to the Malad Second Ward (posts on that building coming soon).

Brigham City Third Ward Chapel

 Built in 1912, the Brigham City Third Ward stands at 200 N and 200 W in Brigham City. It's building and chapel plans are similar to the Malad City Second Ward Chapel. It recently celebrated its centennial and houses two wards.

Brigham City Tabernacle

Dedicated in 1890, completely burned in 1896 (except for the walls), and rebuilt by 1897, the Brigham City Tabernacle is an incredible example of pioneer architecture. Sixteen spires frame the main tower. This building was also the first LDS tabernacle to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, in 1971.

While I did take some interior pictures, they didn't turn out very well. Many others have been able to photograph the interior, though:

(Photograph by J. Steven Conn; Image Source)

The Tabernacle is also open for tours during the summer. Patrons can walk around the interior and watch a short film on the history of the tabernacle. The building is still used for local stake conferences and firesides, as well as other community events--in short, it still serves in its traditional role as a community and Church tabernacle.

Preservation Update: Church sells Kane Memorial Chapel in Pennsylvania

Note: Preservation Updates are a regularly occurring series of posts where I round up recent information on historic LDS buildings and their futures. Depending on the age of the post, there may be newer information available. Click here to see all Preservation Updates.

The reason the history of the chapel in Kane, Pennsylvania is so interesting is that it wasn't built by the Church, yet the Church was invested heavily in its preservation. Since the Church is usually reluctant to engage in preservation anyway, I find it fascinating that they were willing to do so for this chapel.

(Image Source)

Built as a Presbyterian Church in 1878, the Church was dedicated to General Kane, who was friendly to the Mormon Church and advised Brigham Young on how to deal with the U.S. Government. 

After a while the Church was abandoned, and was in poor condition (and considered for demolition) when purchased by the Church in 1970. The Church restored the building and stationed missionaries there to give tours. As recently as 1992, the building was carefully preserved.

(Image Source)

The interior contained beautiful stained glass and a pipe organ, and the congregation faces Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, in February 2013, a water pipe burst and caused $50,000 in water damage. The Kane Preservation Society offered to look after the chapel, and after an agreement was reached, the Church gave the building to the society at the beginning of this month.

***

Recently, I took a trip to Southeastern Utah. I decided to see if there were any historical LDS structures to visit along the way. As I researched, I found pictures of the original chapels that dotted that corridor:

Helper, Utah Ward Meetinghouse (Source: Church History Library)

Wellington, Utah Ward Meetinghouse (Source: Church History Library)

Price, Utah LDS Tabernacle (Source: Church History Library)

None of those buildings--and others I looked up--are standing anymore. As I passed through, I could see the steeples of standard-plan LDS meetinghouses. 

I'm pretty sympathetic to the position of the Church--if they have mission objectives to meet for a worldwide Church, should thousands of dollars be spent to renovate buildings in Helper, Utah? Many chapels become to small (as those in Helper and Wellington did); is the Church under an obligation to keep those? What about those that become structurally deficient?

The Church can't possibly keep all of the meetinghouses and chapels that its members built in its early years. But which ones should it keep? Those are the issues that still cause struggles between modernists and preservationists.

For now, I would like the Church to be more communicative and involve local communities more in its decisions. If it could be honest about its reasons and invite community members to share their ideas on what to do with old buildings, we can have honest communication. And the Church does this much better than it did in the past.

Still, I think its the responsibility of the members of the Church--and not the Church leaders alone--to work to preserve and care for the historic architecture that surrounds them.

St. George Tabernacle: Wall Detail

Located on the west wall.

Manavu Ward: Chapel Entrance