Thorncrown Chapel inspires feelings of wonder and awe. It also exudes peace. To stand in it is to feel the power of nature and the grace of God.
Thorncrown Chapel exists because one man decided to share beauty rather than enclose it. In 1971, school teacher Jim Reed and his wife purchased a stunning piece of land in the Ozarks. Their plan was to build a home and retire there. Over time, Jim noticed that people often stopped on his land to admire it and its view of the Ozarks, and he made a decision. In the ultimate spirit of hospitality, he and his wife would invite people to stop and rest here rather than shoo them away. They decided to build a glass chapel to welcome and inspire wayfarers.
At Reed’s bidding, Arkansas architect E. Fay Jones designed Thorncrown Chapel. He was inspired by Sainte Chappelle in Paris, and he ‘affectionately labeled Thorncrown’s style as “Ozark Gothic”‘. Built of glass, wood, flagstone, and a bit of steel, the chapel is a tribute to the beautiful land surrounding it.
The chapel is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, April through November, though it sometimes closes early for special events. It is located just west of town, a short drive from our Eureka Springs Bed and Breakfast. At this time of year, Sunday services are held at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. All are welcome.
Many guests of our Eureka Springs Arkansas Bed and Breakfast visit Thorncrown Chapel during their stay. They find it a truly peaceful and inspirational space. Perhaps you will, too.
Additional information is available at Thorncrown Chapel.
