Washington Memorial Chapel

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Located in Valley Forge National Historical Park in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the Washington Memorial Chapel is both an active Episcopal Parish and a tribute to General George Washington. Designed by Milton B. Medary,[1] the Chapel resulted from a sermon preached by founder, the Rev. Dr. W. Herbert Burk of Norristown, an Episcopal rector.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

The money for the chapel was raised in small increments (nickels and dimes), raising the building a "few feet at a time."[3] In the religious and patriotic zeal of the day, Dr. Burk was active in trying to preserve Valley Forge, and in the establishment of the Valley Forge Museum of American History (the predecessor to the Valley Forge Historical Society). [3]

On June 19, 1903, the 125th anniversary of the evacuation of the continental army from Valley Forge,[3] the cornerstone was laid on property donated by the I. Heston Todd family. A small framed building preceded the present structure. The original structure was named the "Theodore Roosevelt Chapel," in honor of President Roosevelt after his visit to the site and address in 1904.[4]

The Chapel was completed in 1917 and is the home of an active parish as well as a National Memorial to Washington.[3] The chapel serves as a wayside chapel to those who visit Valley Forge National Historical Park, and welcomes visitors from all over the world.[4]

From the visitor's perspective the Chapel, with its central park location and visitor friendly access, appears to be a part of the park. However the Chapel and surrounding property belong to the Episcopal Church. Across Pork Kennedy Road from the Chapel sits the builder's model of the Washington Monument. The Church property included a walkway connecting the monument to the road, which caused the park a problem. When the park installed a multi-use trail along the road, they had to terminate it short of either side of the Chapel's walkway. When an errant car took out the low brick wall bounding the walkway, the trail was finally completed.

The Bell Tower houses the DAR Patriot Rolls, listing those that served in the Revolutionary War, and the Chapel grounds host the World of Scouting Museum.[5]

[edit] National Patriots Bell Tower and Carillon

The chapel is also known for carillon, placed in the National Patriots Bell Tower.[6] The tower was built entirely by funds raised over a period of more than a decade by members of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).[7]

It is a traditional carillon with a traditional keyboard composed of 58 bells. The first 14 bells were installed in 1926 (from the Meneely bell foundry), and expanded over the course of three decades. The 56 bells were reinstalled in the current tower in 1953, and expanded again to 58 bells in 1963 with bells from the Paccard bell foundry in France. Past carillonneurs have included Frank Pechin Law and Frank Della Penna.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Washington Memorial Chapel & Bell Tower. Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  2. ^ Treese, Lorett (1995). “A Struggle for Growth and Professionalism at the Washington Memorial”, Valley Forge: Making and Remaking a National Symbol. The Pennsylvania State University Press. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  3. ^ a b c d Washington Memorial Chapel. Valley Forge FAQs. ushistory.org. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  4. ^ a b About the Chapel. Washington Memorial Chapel. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  5. ^ About The Museum. World of Scouting Museum. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  6. ^ a b VALLEY FORGE : USA - PA. Traditional carillons in North America: index by state/province. Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) (2006-06-01). Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  7. ^ Work of the Society. About the DAR. National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.

[edit] References

  • "Making a Museum: The Confessions of a Curator" By Rev. W. Herbert Burk, D.D. [Founder and Curator of the Valley Forge Museum of American History], 1926.
  • "In the Beginning: at Valley Forge and the Washington Memorial Chapel" By Eleanor H.S. Burk, 1938.

[edit] External links

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