ST MARY’S CHAPEL AND EVENTS

145 EAST DOUGLAS ST KNOXVILLE, IL 61448

309-509-3906

Hours

Open By Appointment

About

Built in 1881 and completed in 1888, St. Mary’s Chapel was built to accompany St. Mary’s School, traditional all-girls charm school where they centered triangular teachings around Education, Church, and Home. Often attended by wealthier Chicagoan daughters “for higher learning,” its most local historical highlight is that it is said to be the charm school of American President Gerald Ford’s late mother, Dorothy Ayer Gardner Ford.
This Nineteenth Century structure is a vertical Gothic style in design and is reminiscent of 13th Century Eastern Europe churches. These features are highlighted in its bold and romantic features such as original imported 10 foot hand painted glass widows and brilliant leaded stained glass windows, genuine over-head Tiffany Opalescent Chandelier Lamps, hand carved stone cloister pillars as well as an imported Marble, Alabaster & Caen Stone Altar. The architectural ceiling centerpiece was designed, engineered and assembled in Chicago, Illinois. It was then dissembled and brought to Knoxville to be installed into the Chapel as the masterpiece that we see today in its original grandeur.
After a very colorful history, St. Mary’s Chapel opened its doors for the last time in the late 1990’s and has stayed vacant and fading for years… until now. St. Mary’s Chapel & Events is proud to present the 133 year old Chapel is Newly Restored & Reopened for Event Rental!