Arkansas is home to three of the most breathtaking glass churches in the country and, outside of Arkansas, many people have never heard of them.
I’ve visited all three numerous times, for weddings, special events, and honestly just because they’re the kind of places that make you want to slow down and stay a while.
These three glass chapels in the woods are: Thorncrown Chapel, the Mildred B. Cooper Chapel, and Anthony Chapel.
The three chapels share a related architectural story, although they were not all designed by exactly the same architects.
Thorncrown Chapel was designed by Arkansas-born architect E. Fay Jones, a student and apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. Jones later designed the Mildred B. Cooper Chapel with his longtime architectural partner Maurice Jennings. Anthony Chapel was designed by Jennings and architect David McKee.
All three use wood, stone, soaring lines, and walls of glass to blur the boundary between the buildings and the forests surrounding them. Jones affectionately described the style of Thorncrown Chapel as “Ozark Gothic.”
These three Arkansas glass churches offer some of the most stunning architecture in the South.
The Glass Churches in Arkansas
Thorncrown Chapel
Thorncrown Chapel is the most famous of the three glass chapels in Arkansas. It was the first of the chapels to be built and was completed in 1980.
Inspiration for Thorncrown Chapel
This chapel was actually the dream of Jim Reed. He was a retired school teacher who owned a beautiful piece of property just outside of Eureka Springs.
Mr. Reed found that people would often stop to admire the views from his land. One day while out taking a walk he had the idea that he should build a glass chapel in the woods to give his visitors a place to rest and to find peace and inspiration.
He contacted E. Fay Jones who immediately agreed to design the chapel.
Architecture of Thorncrown Chapel
The inspiration for Thorncrown Chapel was Sainte Chappelle, Paris’s light filled gothic chapel. Fay affectionately labeled Thorncrown’s style as “Ozark Gothic.”
The Thorncrown Chapel website
Isn’t the idea of Ozark Gothic wonderful? I have been to Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and I totally see the influence in Thorncrown.
This is a small structure, only 24 by 60 feet, but it rises 48 feet into the sky and has 425 windows. Because of the constant play of light and shadow the chapel never looks the same.
Members of the American Institute of Architects ranked Thorncrown fourth on their list of the top buildings of the twentieth century.
Location of Thorncrown Chapel
Thorncrown Chapel is located a mile and a half west of Eureka Springs on Hwy 62 West. GPS sometimes does not show the correct location so be sure and check the map on their website!
When to VIsit Thorncrown Chapel?
Thorncrown Chapel is open:
- March to December: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- January and February: Closed (except for special events)
Do be aware that the chapel can be rented for weddings and other special events and on those days (usually on the weekends) the church might close as early as 12:30PM.
In addition to Thorncrown here are some more things that we love about Eureka Springs.
Mildred B. Cooper Chapel
Some people think that this is the most beautiful of the glass chapels in Arkansas because of the round window in the front.
Inspiration for the Mildred B. Cooper Chapel
The Mildred B. Cooper Chapel was built by the family of Mrs. Cooper for the purpose of honoring her memory. She was a wife, mother, and businesswoman. She and her husband, John A. Cooper were the creators of Cooper Communities.
The chapel was built to celebrate her life, her deep spirituality, and her great love of nature. The family hopes that those who visit the chapel will find it to be a source of inspiration in their lives.
Architecture of the Cooper Chapel
The Cooper Chapel was designed by E. Fay Jones and his partner in architecture Maurice Jennings.
It sits on a wooded hill overlooking Lake Norwood in Bella Vista, Arkansas. This glass church has 15 arches that soar to 50 feet tall.
The gorgeous circular window above its entrance gives Cooper Chapel a distinctly different appearance from the other two Arkansas glass chapels.
It is approximately twenty-four feet wide by sixty-five feet long with soaring walls of glass and timber and steel. Like all the glass chapels in Arkansas the Cooper Chapel has a close relationship with the nature that surrounds it.
This Arkansas glass church feels intimate and peaceful.
Location of the Cooper Chapel
East of Bella Vista Town Center on US 71, exit 98. Take Lancashire Blvd east to Memorial Dr. Turn left on and follow signs to 504 Memorial Drive.
When to Visit the Cooper Chapel?
Daily from 9-5. The chapel does close for special events so if you are planning to visit you might want to call first to make sure that it is open to the public.
Here are some more things to do in Bentonville after you visit this chapel.
Anthony Chapel
Anthony Chapel is the glass chapel that I have probably visited the most because I live near Hot Springs.
Anthony Chapel is located near the entrance to Garvan Woodland Gardens and can be visited separately from the ticketed garden areas when it is open to the public.
Architecture of Anthony Chapel
Anthony Chapel is the largest of the glass chapels in Arkansas. It is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas at Garvan Gardens, nestled in the woods on a hillside near Lake Hamilton.
Anthony Chapel was designed by Arkansas architects Maurice Jennings and David McKee. Jennings had previously spent 25 years working with E. Fay Jones, and the chapel continues the organic architectural tradition seen in Arkansas’s two earlier glass chapels.
This is another awe-inspiring chapel that uses native stone, massive panes of glass, and wood in its construction. The impressive 57-foot-high ceiling is supported by an intricate cross-beam system and massive yellow pine columns.
Its height and scale make it feel more like a glass cathedral than a small woodland chapel.
Anthony Chapel also, in my opinion, feels a bit less rustic than the other two.
Location of Anthony Chapel
The Anthony Chapel is located on the grounds of Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
When to Visit Anthony Chapel
The church typically keeps the same hours as Garvan Gardens which is open daily from 9 – 6. However, the chapel is used often for special events including weddings. I would suggest checking especially if you plan to visit on the weekend.
When Garvan Gardens is open in the evenings for special events such as their Christmas Light extravaganza the chapel will often also keep extended hours.
Here is everything you need to know if you are planning a trip to Hot Springs.
Can You Visit the Glass Churches in Arkansas?
Yes! As you have seen above all three of the chapels are available for visits and all three are free to the public.
However, they do all keep different hours and all can be closed for private events so call before you go, especially on the weekends.
The Architectural Legacy of the Glass Chapels in Arkansas
E. Fay Jones grew up in Arkansas and initially studied civil engineering at the University of Arkansas. His education was interrupted by World War II, when he joined the Navy and served as a naval aviator.
After completing his military service, he returned to Arkansas and worked for an architectural firm in Little Rock.
The Influence of Frank Lloyd Wright
While earning his master’s degree, Jones met Frank Lloyd Wright, who became both a mentor and a friend.
You can clearly see Wright’s influence in Jones’s work, but Jones developed an aesthetic all his own.
He preferred the quiet beauty of the Ozark Mountains to the city, which may help explain why his buildings blend so seamlessly into their surroundings.
His most famous works are tucked away in nature. They feel organic, almost as though they have grown from the ground beneath them. They rise like the trees, reaching toward the sun, wind, and rain.
Jones’s love for Arkansas helped establish an architectural tradition that continued through the work of Maurice Jennings and can be seen in all three of these glass churches in the woods. Like the landscape around them, they feel both grand and intimate.
Are There Weddings at the Glass Chapels?
Absolutely! All three of the glass chapels in Arkansas are very popular wedding venues. They are each run separately and you will have to check the dates and prices with the venues that interest you.
If you do plan to have a wedding at one of these crystal churches it is important to know that they photograph much better in the daylight. They can be difficult at night because the interior lighting reflect on the panes of glass.
I hope that you enjoyed learning about the glass chapels in Arkansas! I think that you will find that they are worth a visit.
If you are visiting the Mildred B Cooper chapel in Bella Vista then you might also want to take a stroll around Tanyard Creek Nature Area. There are also wonderful things to do in nearby Bentonville including the ability to see a Frank Lloyd Wright home at Crystal Bridges Museum.
