400 College Street, New Haven, CT

Click on ->MAP: Battell Chapell for campus location

Was erected in 1874-76 and named in honor of Joseph Battell, BA HON. 1823, M. A. HON 1871, who donated funds in 1863 for a college chapel. Additional gifts from members of his family defrayed the major expense. A competition was held in 1866 for the Chapel design as a Civil War memorial chapel. Standing on the corner of College and Elm streets, between Durfee and Farnam halls, this High Victorian Gothic building of rough brown New Jersey and Ohio sandstone was designed by Russell Sturgis, Jr. Robbins Battell, BA 1839, and Mrs. Ellen Battell Eldridge presented the chimes, consisting of five bells, in 1882. In 1893 the seating capacity was increased by an addition to the south by Cady, Berg & See, Architects. An extensive renovation took place in 1927 under the direction of Everett V. Meeks. The chapel has many memorials recording service to the University by members of the faculty. Andrew F. Euston planned and supervised the remodeling of the memorial apse, and designed the carving on altar, reredos, and stalls, dedicated October 5, 1947, to sixteen undergraduate deacons who died in the Second World War. The transept organ (built by Walter Holtkamp), a memorial to Ellen Battell Stoeckel, and the choir organ, commemorating three sons of Samuel Thorne, BA 1896 - Lewis, BA 1931, M.D. 1936, Peter B., Class of 1940, and J. Neale, Class of 1942 - were dedicated on October 14, 1951. The interior underwent an extensive historic restoration in 1984.