Rockefeller Chapel

Rockefeller Chapel
Rockefeller Chapel
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
	Front view of the Chapel
	41°47′19″N 87°35′49″W / 41.7885°N 87.5970°W
Address	5850 S. Woodlawn Avenue; Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois
Country	United States
Associations	University of Chicago
Website	Official website
History
Associated people	John D. Rockefeller
Architecture
Architect(s)	Bertram Goodhue; Lee Lawrie and Ulric Ellerhusen (sculptors); Hildreth Meière (interior); Alois Lang (carvings);
Architectural type	Gothic Revival
Style	Collegiate Gothic
Years built	1925–1928
Specifications
Capacity	1700
Height	200.7 feet (61.2 m)
Clergy
Dean	Maurice Charles

Rockefeller Chapel is a Gothic Revival chapel on the campus of the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. A monumental example of Collegiate Gothic architecture, it was meant by patron John D. Rockefeller to be the "central and dominant feature" of the campus; at 200.7 feet^[1] it is by covenant the tallest building on campus and seats 1700. The current dean is Maurice Charles, an Episcopal priest.^[2]

The carillon tower of the Rockefeller Chapel.

Design

Designed by architect Bertram Goodhue between 1918 and 1924, and built between 1925 and 1928 without the use of structural steel, it contains about 70 integrated figural sculptures by sculptors Lee Lawrie and Ulric Ellerhusen, and interior work by mosaicist Hildreth Meière. Today the chapel is used for ecumenical worship services, university convocations, guest speakers, musical programs, weddings, memorial services, and occasional film screenings. It occupies most of a block and can seat 1700 people.

The woodcarvings that adorn the organ and South balcony were created by Alois Lang, a Master Woodcarver at the American Seating Co., and one of the artists responsible for bringing the medieval art of ecclesiastical carving back to life. His pieces in Rockefeller Chapel are carved from White Appalachian Oak.

Carillon

The chapel contains the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon and tower, a separate gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1932 in honor of his mother. This 72-bell carillon is the second-largest carillon in the world by mass, after the carillon at Riverside Church on the Upper West Side of New York City, which Rockefeller Jr. also donated in honor of his mother.