Washington Memorial Chapel

Reverend Burk was rector of an Episcopal church in nearby Norristown. The money for the chapel was raised in small increments, and its stone walls were built a "few feet at a time." Burk was active in trying to preserve Valley Forge and in the establishment of the Valley Forge Museum of American History, predecessor to the Valley Forge Historical Society. June 19, 1903 marked the 125th anniversary of the evacuation of the Continental Army from Valley Forge, The Chapel's exterior was completed in 1917 and its interior in 1921. It serves as a wayside chapel to those who visit Valley Forge National Historical Park, and is open to the public. The interior woodwork was supplied by cabinetmaker Edward Maene (1852–1931). The Chapel can appear to visitors to be a part of the park, given its central location. However, the Chapel and surrounding property belong to the Episcopal Church. There is a model of the Washington Monument across from the Chapel which marks the grave of Lieutenant John Waterman. The Bell Tower houses the DAR Patriot Rolls, listing those that served in the Revolutionary War. ==National Patriots Bell Tower and Carillon==

The National Patriots Bell Tower was a later addition to the Chapel, and houses its carillon. The tower was built entirely with funds raised by members of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) over a period of more than a decade. Construction began in 1941, but was suspended due to World War II, and restarted in 1949. The bell tower was completed and dedicated in 1953. The Justice Bell ''(Women's Liberty Bell)'' is on permanent display in the bell tower chamber. It was forged in 1915 as a nearly identical replica of the Liberty Bell, and became an instrumental symbol of the Women's Suffrage movement. In 1920, after touring many parts of the country to promote the passing of the 19th Amendment, the bell was stored on the grounds of Valley Forge National Park before being permanently moved to the bell tower chamber in 1943. ==Features==

Stained glass The chapel contains numerous stained glass windows designed by Nicola D'Ascenzo, including: • George Washington Window, south wall over entrance, depicting 36 scenes from Washington's life • Anthony Wayne Window, west wall, depicting 12 scenes of American expansion • Alexander Hamilton Window, east wall • Martha Washington Window (1918), north wall over altar • Washington at Prayer Window, carillon tower chamber File:Washington Memorial Chapel (inside) Valley forge.jpg|Martha Washington Window (1918). File:George Washington Window by Nicola D'Ascenzo, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|George Washington Window. File:Patriotism Window and Union Window, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|Patriotism Window and The Union Window. File:John Paul Jones Window by Nicola D'Ascenzo, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|John Paul Jones Window. File:WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL, MONTGOMERY COUNTY PA.jpg|Washington at Prayer Window. Church furniture The chapel also features numerous pieces of furntiture designed by Milton B. Medary and carved by Edward Maene, including: • Baptismal font (limestone & oak, 1907) • Pulpit (limestone, 1909) • Lectern and Perclose (limestone, 1909) • Altar and reredos (limestone, 1916) • Litany desk (Prie-dieu) (white oak, 1916), chancel • Pews of the Patriots (white oak, 1917); the left front pew is the Presidents' Pew, dedicated to George Washington and James Monroe, the two future Presidents of the United States who endured the Valley Forge encampment. • Choir stalls and reredos (white oak, 1917–21), choir • Prayer Desk (Hand Carved, Engraved, 1916); Dedicated in Memory of Anna Morris Holstein, Founder, Regent Centennial and Memorial Association, led efforts to save, acquire, and preserve Washington’s Headquarters and initial Valley Forge Park acreage; presented by Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) and Patriotic Order Sons of America (POS of A). File:Baptismal font, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|Baptismal font (1907). File:Pulpit, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|Pulpit (1909). File:Lectern, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|Lectern and Perclose (1909). File:WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAP. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA.jpg|Altar and reredos (1916). File:Screen for Presidents' Pew, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|Screen for Presidents' Pew (1917). File:Choir stalls by Edward Maene, Washington Memorial Chapel.JPG|Choir screens (1917). File:Choir stalls by Edward Maene, Washington Memorial Chapel2.JPG|East choir stalls (1917). File:East choir stalls by Edward Maene, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|East choir reredos (c.1920). File:West choir stalls by Edward Maene, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|West choir reredos (c.1920). Sculpture • Valley Forge (Seated Washington) (statuette, bronze, 1878), rood screen, Franklin Simmons, sculptor • Sacrifice and Devotion (Grieving Mother) (statue, bronze, 1914), Heckscher Memorial, Cloister of the Colonies Garden, Bela Pratt, sculptor • Harrison Memorial Gates (wrought iron, 1918), porch, Samuel Yellin, metalworker • Declaration of Independence Tablet (bas relief, limestone, 1926), nave, Martha Maulsby Hovenden, sculptor • United States Constitution Tablet (bas relief, limestone, 1936), nave, Martha Maulsby Hovenden, sculptor • Bishop William White (statue, bronze, 1937), Alexander Stirling Calder, sculptor • George Washington (statue, limestone, 1953), exterior of National Patriots Bell Tower, C. Paul Jennewein, sculptor • Nathanael Greene (statue, bronze, 2015), front lawn, Susie Chisholm, sculptor. File:Valley Forge by Franklin Simmons, Washington Memorial Chapel.JPG|Valley Forge (1878), by Franklin Simmons. File:Valley Forge National Historical Park 2013-09-30 23-52-57.jpg|Grieving Mother (1914), by Bela Pratt, Cloister of the Colonies Garden. File:Yellin Gates 1920 Yearbook NY Arch League p246.jpg|Harrison Memorial Gates (1918), by Samuel Yellin, File:The Minute Man by Samuel Yellin, Washington Memorial Chapel.JPG|Minuteman Latch, Harrison Memorial Gates. File:Declaration of Independence Tablet 1926 by Martha M. Hovenden.jpg|Declaration of Independence Tablet (1926), by Martha M. Hovenden. File:Framers of the Constitution Tablet 1936 by Martha M. Hovenden.jpg|United States Constitution Tablet (1936), by Martha M. Hovenden. File:Bishop William White by Alexander Stirling Calder, Washington Memorial Chapel.jpg|Bishop William White (1937), by Alexander Stirling Calder, Bishop White Garden. File:George Washington (1953) by C. Paul Jennewein.jpg|George Washington (1953), by C. Paul Jennewein, exterior of bell tower. Other media • Mosaic portrait bust of George Washington, bell tower chamber, Nicola D'Ascenzo, designer • Justice Bell ''(aka The Women's Liberty Bell)'' (1915), National Patriots Bell Tower chamber. File:Mosaic portrait of George Washington by Nicola D'Ascenzo.jpg|Washington mosaic portrait bust (year), by Nicola D'Ascenzo File:Valley Forge National Historical Park 2013-09-30 23-57-21.jpg|Justice Bell (1915), National Patriots Bell Tower chamber. ==See also==

• Rev. W. Herbert Burk, D.D., Making a Museum: The Confessions of a Curator (1926). Burk was the founder and curator of the Valley Forge Museum of American History. • D'Ascenzo Studios, The Memorial Windows, Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge, Pa. (1930). • Eleanor H.S. Burk, In the Beginning: at Valley Forge and the Washington Memorial Chapel (1938). • Shelley A. Perdue, The Washington Memorial Chapel: Historic Structure Report and Condition Assessment, (Masters thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 2005). ==External links==