Anthony Chapel
The Gardens' much anticipated Anthony Chapel was officially dedicated in October of 2006. The elegant wood, glass and stone structure, designed by the Jennings + McKee firm, features a soaring 57' ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows that provides beautiful views of Lake Hamilton and the surrounding wooded landscape.
In addition to the chapel, other buildings included in the complex are the Millsap Bride's Hall and the Evans Grooms Quarters. The bridal hall is designed to serve not only as a dressing room for the bridal party but also as a site for receptions and small corporate meetings. The building contains a catering kitchen and comfortable great room area, complete with stone fireplace.
The Evans Grooms Quarters serves as a changing area for the groom and his attendants and also contains an office for the officiant to prepare for the ceremony. Since there are no public restrooms in the chapel itself, the Grooms Quarters will provide ample facilities with separate, exterior entrances to handle those needs.
Unique to the Anthony Chapel and accompanying buildings is the 80' copper Anthony Carillon Tower that welcomes visitors and guests with the sound of bells and music when an event is scheduled.
Anthony Chapel architects Maurice Jennings and David McKee are partners in the Fayetteville, AR firm founded by E. Fay Jones, an internationally recognized architect who once studied with Frank Lloyd Wright. Jones, who died in August 2004, created the inspirational Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR, which was selected by members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as the best American building constructed since 1980. In 1990, Jones received from Britain's Prince Charles the prestigious AIA Gold Medal award for his design. Jennings was Fay Jones' partner for over 25 years and was involved with many of his designs, including Thorncrown Chapel. In recent years, chapels designed by Jennings + McKee can be found in Ann Arbor, MI and Sewanee, TN at the University of the South; however, both architects agree that neither of these structures compare to the Anthony Chapel. According to Jennings, "it is our finest creation to date." We can't tell you how excited we are to see the "new" Chapel section on the web site.
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