His Highness and I just returned from a trip to Eureka Spring, Arkansas. Are you familiar with Eureka Springs?
It’s an historic town that became popular around 1880 because locals believed its many natural springs had healing powers. Eureka Springs’ Main Street runs down the bottom rib of a valley. The rest of the streets and structures snake upward from there. What’s absolutely astonishing to me is that SO MANY old buildings have survived to the present day. I walked and walked one afternoon, up steep roads and down steep roads, and came upon one quaint, stunningly well-preserved Victorian building after another. It turns out that the entire city is on the National Register of Historic Places!
Before I give you a peek at the considerably more recent and no less sublime Thorncrown Chapel, here’s a glimpse at Eureka Springs.
The town stirred my imagination and charmed me thoroughly.
Now… onward to the chapel.
Friends of mine who were raised in northwest Arkansas told me that Thorncrown Chapel was not to be missed. Since two worship services are held there every Sunday, His Highness and I made plans to attend. I love experiencing “church” in various styles and languages and through different singers and ministers.
Here’s the view of Thorncrown that greeted us as we approached….
And here’s the moving story behind the chapel, as printed in the pamphlet we were given.
“In 1971 Jim Reed purchased the land which is now the site of the chapel to build his retirement home. However, other people admired his location and would often stop at his property to gain a better view of the beautiful Ozark Hills. Instead of fencing them out, Jim decided to invite them in.
One day while walking up the hill to his house, the idea came to him that he and his wife should build a glass chapel in the woods to give wayfarers a place to relax in an inspiring way.
Shortly thereafter, Jim met E. Fay Jones, a professor at the University of Arkansas. Much to Jim’s surprise, Jones was quick to accept the proposal to build the chapel. On March 23, 1979, the construction crew broke ground on the mountain side. Jim’s dream looked like it would soon be a reality.
However, halfway through the project, funds began to run out. 
Soon the building process ground to a halt. Jim began to believe he had made the biggest mistake of his life. He desperately tried to raise the necessary funds to complete his dream, but all his efforts failed.
Finally, one evening Jim took what he thought would be one last walk down to his half–finished chapel. He would take one last look and never return. 
Then the unexpected happened. Describing his experience Jim said, “I am not proud of the fact, but the first time I ever got down on my knees was on the chapel floor. I prayed more seriously than ever before. All the trials and tribulations gave me the humility to get on my knees.” That evening Jim reached the end of himself, but he soon found that God’s kindness had just begun.
A few days later, a generous woman from Illinois provided a loan, allowing Jim to finish his dream. On July 10, 1980, Thorncrown Chapel opened. Since then people from all over the world [more than six million!] have come to visit the little chapel in the woods.”
The architect mentioned above, E. Fay Jones, was mentored by Frank Lloyd Wright and was renowned for his skill. Of all his buildings, however, Thorncrown would become Jones’s most acclaimed.
When sitting inside the chapel, I felt completely surrounded by nature. It contains 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. There’s stone below, trees on all sides, and a view of the sky above.
I shot this short video to give you a sense of the structure:
We had a wonderful time in Arkansas!
Can you name a building you’ve visited that struck you as being an architectural masterpiece? Have you worshipped lately at a church other than your own?
Becky Wade
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Beautiful photos! Eureka Springs is definitely one my list of places I’d like to visit.
Hi Becky, Wow, I’ve never heard of Thorncrown Chapel. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing your visit with us!
I’d never heard of it either, Carrie, until my friends mentioned it to me. I’m so glad they did because it became the highlight of our trip.
I vacationed in New York earlier this month and visited St. Patrick’s cathedral that opened in 1879. Although I’m not Catholic they were having mass when I was there, and I did recognize a few songs they sang. The building and stained glass windows are magnificent and awe inspiring. Thanks for sharing your pictures of Eureka Springs. Had no idea it was a town ‘frozen in time’ and so unique looking. Loved the ‘outdoorsiness’ of Thorncrown Chapel.
Yes – a town ‘frozen in time’ is a perfect way to describe Eureka Springs. And Thorncrown Chapel is the outdoorsiest chapel I’ve ever visited. 🙂
I’ve seen pictures of St. Patrick’s! I’d love to visit it sometime.
Never been to Eureka Springs even though I lived in southern Missouri for some time! 😬
I attended a wedding at Mandi’s Chapel at Camp Weed in Florida. It has a lot of glass windows and gorgeous woodwork. The chapel is actually built on “stilts” out over the lake there. Beautiful location for a wedding!
Wow! That sounds memorable and beautiful and unique!
We visited Hot Springs, Arkansas, in October, 2010. We knew nothing of the area, but saw signs for Garvan Gardens. We decided to visit, and were so glad we did. There is a glass chapel there, too, named Anthony Chapel. The most beautiful place I have ever been in.
Thank you for sharing Thorncrown. I don’t know that we will ever be out that way again, (we live in Middle Georgia), but at least now I know about it.
I’m glad to know about Anthony Chapel, Andrea! If we get out to Hot Springs at some point, I’ll definitely stop by.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of this chapel it is gorgeous.What a amazing story about it as well.
Last week we got to tour the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. The rotunda is pretty amazing! Then last Sunday we were visiting a nephew who is stationed at Dover, Delaware. We got to go to the chapel service at the Air Force base. The service we went to was mostly retired people, and about 3/4 of them were African Americans. We felt right at home and had wonderful fellowship with very friendly, welcoming people!
The US Capitol with it’s elaborate rotunda is definitely an architectural masterpiece! It’s been awhile since I visited there. It’s about time for another trip to DC!
The Biltmore is an architectural masterpiece in my mind. I have found that I can worship God anywhere.
Yes! I’ve never been to the Biltmore. I’d love to see it.
I first visited Throrncrown chapel in the mid-90’s, I can’t remember the year for sure. It was the most impressive building I had ever seen and we have been there several times since. 6 years ago my husband & I were in Hot Springs area for our 40th anniversary and discovered Garvan Woodland gardens and the glass chapel there. It is also totally amazing and so impressive. We live in northcentral Arkansas surrounded by a lot of God’s beautiful creation, but these 2 buildings showcase it in a most impressive way. I definitely recommend a visit to either of these 2 places. The Great Passion Play in an outdoor theater at Eureka Springs is amazing worship experience and the enormous Christ of the Ozarks statue can be seen at a great distance.
“We live in northcentral Arkansas surrounded by a lot of God’s beautiful creation, but these 2 buildings showcase it in a most impressive way.” You echo my sentiments exactly, Karen! For me, Thorncrown really did showcase God’s creation.
Wow, this is amazing! Thank you for sharing about this chapel.
Thanks for sharing! The most impressive building I’ve been in is the Cathedral in St. Paul, MN! When I was about 20, someone invited me to go w/ them for Christmas Eve mass, & I still remember it over 40 years later!
Though I no longer live in Arkansas, I grew up in Berryville, just a few miles from Eureka Springs in the same county. The two towns are very different. There is no place like Eureka, or as the natives pronounce it, “u-rick-a.” The Victorian houses, the quaint shops, the unique way the architecture is adapted to the hills, the crooked streets; I still love to visit there when I’m home.
You didn’t mention The Great Passion Play or the Christ of the Ozarks Statue. I hope you saw those, too.
I remember when Thorncrown Chapel was built. There is a similar structure, Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, also designed by E. Faye Jones, located in Benton County, the next county to the west. It was built a few years after Thorncrown Chapel and is also very beautiful.
We had the privilege of attending a wedding in the Thorncrown Chapel several years ago. It was in the late fall and there was a light snow on the ground. During the ceremony, a mother deer and two fawns came down the rocks behind the chapel and just stood there. It was beautiful. It seemed like a blessing on their marriage. We live in Republic, MO near Springfield so we aren’t too far from Eureka Springs. We have been there several times.
This is an incredible building in a gorgeous place. I recently attended a funeral mass in the Cathedral de Madeleine in Salt Lake City. A beautiful, impressive stone building, painted inside in Native American colors and style.
The Sydney Opera House. Just astounding 🙂