Little Chapel in the Woods facts for kids
The Little Chapel-in-the-Woods is a beautiful chapel located at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. It's a special place on campus where people can go for quiet reflection, worship, and celebrations.
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A Chapel with a Story
The Little Chapel was built a long time ago, during the Great Depression. This was a time in the 1930s when many people faced tough economic challenges. A famous architect named O’Neil Ford designed it. Over 300 students and teachers helped make the chapel beautiful.
The chapel became famous on November 1, 1939. On that day, Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the First Lady of the United States, officially opened the chapel. Mary Kay Jones, the student body president at the time, introduced her to everyone who came to the event.
Since it was finished in 1939, the chapel has been a place for many different events. People use it for worship, quiet thinking, and happy celebrations.
Weddings at the Chapel
The very first wedding in the Little Chapel happened on September 25, 1939. Esther Webb, a graduate from the college, married John Hauseman there. Their names are written in the TWU Bride’s Book. This book holds the names of every couple who has gotten married in the chapel since then.
Today, more than 100 weddings take place inside the Little Chapel each year. It's a very popular spot for couples to start their married lives.
Awards and Special Recognition
The Little Chapel has won many awards and is recognized as a very special building:
- From 2014 to 2017, it was voted the "Best Wedding Venue" in Denton County.
- In 2009, Texas Monthly magazine named it one of the top 10 best buildings in the entire state of Texas.
- In 1983, the Texas Society of Architects called it one of the 20 buildings that represent "Texas' Proudest Architectural Achievements of All Time."
Amazing Stained Glass Windows
The stained glass windows inside the Little Chapel are truly special. They were designed around a theme called "Women Ministering to Human Needs." This means each window honors women who have helped others in different jobs and roles. A student named Beatrice Paschall helped create these beautiful windows.
The Motherhood Window
This window is right above the altar, which is the main part of the chapel. It is the largest window and shows woman as a mother. The pictures in the glass show ideas like spiritual strength, kindness, loyalty, and love. These ideas come from old stories about motherhood.
The Nursing Window
This window is dedicated to women who work as nurses. It honors all the women who helped create modern nursing. The large figure in the middle of the window shows what an ideal nurse might look like.
The Teaching Window
This window honors women who are teachers. It celebrates all the women who have used their knowledge to educate others. The main figures in this window represent Helen Keller and her famous teacher, Anne Sullivan.
The Music Window
This window celebrates women and their achievements through music. At the bottom of the window, it says "Gloria in Excelsis Deo." This is a Latin phrase that means "Glory to God in the Highest."
The Dance Window
This window shows women who have expressed beauty through movement and dance.
The Science Window
This window represents women who work in science. This includes fields like chemistry, physics, and biology.
The Social Service Window
This window honors women who work tirelessly to help people in need and relieve suffering.
The Literature Window
This window represents women who are writers.
The Speech Window
This window represents women involved in the arts, particularly through speech and performance.
The Rose Window
This round window is located above the entrance to the chapel. It shows the joy women find in the physical world around them.
The Signature Window
This is a small window found near the entrance. It shows the people who helped build, donate to, and decorate the chapel. Graduate student Beatrice Paschall, working with local artist Dorothy LaSelle, oversaw the design and creation of these windows. Art students at TWU made these windows between 1938 and 1941.
