Knowles Memorial
Knowles Memorial in 1950
Entrance
The Knowles Memorial Chapel was the generous gift of Frances Knowles Warren (’35H) of Boston in memory of her father, Francis Bangs Knowles (1823-1890), one of the founders, benefactors, and charter trustees of Rollins College. The groundbreaking ceremony for the chapel took place on March 9, 1931, and on May 12, the cornerstone was laid. Following construction by the G.W. Hessler Corporation of Jacksonville, Florida, the dedication service took place on March 29, 1932. Ralph Adams Cram (’38H) of the architectural firm Cram & Ferguson of Boston served as the Chapel’s designer. At that time, Cram was already renowned around the world for his work on over 75 churches and cathedrals in both the United States and Europe, including the celebrated Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, and the Chapels at West Point and Rice University. To accommodate President Hamilton Holt’s vision of a distinctive Spanish-Mediterranean look for Rollins College, Cram designed the Chapel in accordance with the 17th century Spain’s classical forms of architecture. Noted Cram, “The Knowles Chapel is designed in a modified version of the style of which was common in Spain in the 17th century, when the earlier versions of Renaissance fashion had given way to somewhat more classical forms, but before the Spanish builders had gone to the lengths of elaboration found in the churches of Mexico.”
Official interior configuration 1953
Interior 1956
Candles procession
Artistic look 1977
The Chapel’s exterior is best known for the striking design of its campanile (the upper portion of the tower), which was modeled after that of the great cathedral in Toledo, Spain, and for the tympanum of carved stone above the front entrance. The tympanum symbolizes the first planting of the Christian cross on American soil. Under Cram’s direction, this bas-relief was designed by William F. Ross of Cambridge, Mass., and carved by Ardolino of New York. The central figure depicts a Franciscan friar placing a large wooden cross in the earth, flanked by a group of conquistadors on his left and Florida Indians on his right. Two Spanish caravels float in the background. Also inspired by the design of Toledo’s cathedral was the Chapel garden, featuring a Spanish-tiled fountain at its center. The gates are copied from the cloister of the Cathedral of Toledo. The circle of cypresses around the fountain is typical of the Spanish cloistered garden, and similar to those in the patios at the Alhambra. Known as “Gloriedas,” such a circular planting symbolized the glory of God. The garden was landscaped in 1934 by Rose Standish Nichols, and in 1979 by Ronald Wilson.
Knowles Memorial at night 2000
Nave 2001
Antiphonal Organ 2003
In
addition to its extraordinary external beauty, many priceless treasures
are housed within the Chapel. Above the altar is a hand carving of The
Last Supper by the Italian sculptor Ernest Pelegrini, and at the head
of the main entrance is a bas-relief carved by Andy Dinselly and featuring
Jesus, Mother Mary, and the disciple John with the words of the
benediction, “Peace I Leave With You.” In addition, Knowles Chapel
boasts of many stained glass windows, four of which honor individuals who
helped shape Rollins: Charles Atwood Campbell (first Dean of the Chapel),
Hamilton Holt (Rollins President 1925-1949), Alexina Smith Holt (president
Holt’s wife), and Frances Knowles Warren. In 1971, more classroom and
office space was added to the building, and in 1984 and 2005, extensive
roof repairs were made. The Chapel is 12,450 square feet and seats 750 in
its pews, with space for 100 extra chairs. In 1997, the Knowles Memorial
Chapel was entered in the National
Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.
Interior 2003