Thorncrown Chapel

The Thorncrown Chapel is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas (USA). It was designed by architect E. Fay Jones and constructed in 1980. The chapel was the brainchild of Jim Reed, a retired schoolteacher who originally bought the land on which it stands to build his retirement home. But the area's natural setting was so attractive that many visitors set foot on the property. So, Reed consulted with Jones to construct a building where his guests cou... more

The Thorncrown Chapel is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas (USA). It was designed by architect E. Fay Jones and constructed in 1980. The chapel was the brainchild of Jim Reed, a retired schoolteacher who originally bought the land on which it stands to build his retirement home. But the area's natural setting was so attractive that many visitors set foot on the property. So, Reed consulted with Jones to construct a building where his guests could feel welcome—and close to God. The chapel is built mostly out of materials indigenous to northwestern Arkansas, where Eureka Springs is located. As a result, transportation of the materials was relatively easy and costs were minimized. The design closely resembles the Prairie School architecture popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright, of whom Jones was once an apprentice. The building was selected for the 2006 "Twenty-Five Year Award" by the American Institute of Architects, recognizing structures that have had significant influence on the... less