Chapel of the Resurrection- Valparaiso University
Valpo's Chapel of the Resurrection is a glorious work that shows the majesty of Christ. The space was dedicated on September 27, 1959. A copy of that service bulletin can be found here and it features Psalm 122; "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord". I can tell you, I was very glad to be in this house of the Lord.
Upon entering, I was greeted with an impossibly bright nave; the only visible windows are the ornate chancel windows which, although beautiful, don't let in much light. The walls' angles draw one's eyes forward to the windows and it's difficult to resist moving closer for a better look. As visitors move down the center aisle they come to the baptismal font, located in the center of the congregation. This placement symbolizes a new Christian's adoption into the family of Christ. Moving forward, the altar, 20 feet long, comes into view as well as the chancel windows which show scenes from the Bible and depictions of education and history of the Church. The ceiling of the apse is shaped like a crown and upon entering campus, its exterior is the proud focal point of the campus.
Here's where things get even better. Turning around to leave the chancel, communicants are greeted with the source of all that improbable light; giant floor to ceiling windows of clear glass. The intentional placement of those windows was not lost on me; I stepped from the darkness into Christ's presence at the altar and continued in it when I left. The Light of the World in the forefront of the architect's design. The walls between these windows have been blackened by years of the heaters' hard work in warming generations of learning. Not an architectural feature but still heartwarming in a way.
Seeing the chapel from the balcony just offers a different view of the glory of the space. The wraparound design allowed for lots of exploration and closer looks.
Taking the stairs all the way to the basement, I found the baptistry; a dark, intimate, and peaceful space.
The Chapel of the resurrection was featured in the incredibly interesting and addicting Atlas Obscura.
