The Shape of Texas
Little Chapel in the Woods, Denton - The Shape of Texas
11/1/2022 | 2m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
A deceptively simple stone chapel nestled on the edge of Texas Woman’s University campus.
A deceptively simple stone chapel nestled on the edge of campus at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. The Little Chapel in the Woods is believed to be the finest collaboration between noted Texas architects O’Neil Ford and Arch Swank, with help from The National Youth Association.
The Shape of Texas
Little Chapel in the Woods, Denton - The Shape of Texas
11/1/2022 | 2m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
A deceptively simple stone chapel nestled on the edge of campus at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. The Little Chapel in the Woods is believed to be the finest collaboration between noted Texas architects O’Neil Ford and Arch Swank, with help from The National Youth Association.
How to Watch The Shape of Texas
The Shape of Texas is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(gentle upbeat music) - [Narrator] A deceptively simple stone chapel nestles on the edge of campus at Texas Women's University in Denton.
The Little Chapel in the Woods is believed to be the finest collaboration between noted Texas architects, O'Neil Ford and his protege, Arch B. Swank Junior.
The small non-sectarian chapel was built during the Great Depression.
Early buildings on the Texas frontier inspired the chapel's design and materials.
The exterior is made with rough cut and beautifully laid field stone.
The sloping roof is constructed with seamed metal.
Ford and Swank may have had a small budget but they had an army of laborers.
Construction trainees, part of a public works project for the unemployed, built the quaint chapel, while over 300 students from the college's Fine Arts program designed and created the interiors artistic elements, reflecting their attention to detail.
Inside the chapel's walls and archways are finished in red tapestry brick.
(gentle upbeat music) Intricate brass light fixtures hang from the chapel ceiling.
11 stained glass windows, rendered by the college's art students, commemorate women's roles in society.
They feature quotes from famous women, such as George Elliot, Marie Curie and Jane Addams.
(gentle upbeat music) The entrance doors, alter pieces and the ends of pews are hand carved.
A rose window above the entrance uses Texas wildflowers as motifs.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt attended the chapel's dedication in 1939.
Today the building is a popular wedding venue but it still sends a timeless message.
Attention to detail, art and craftsmanship all translate to serve quiet spirituality.
- [Announcer] Funding for "The Shape of Texas" is provided by Texas Society of Architects and by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Summerlee Foundation of Dallas, Texas.
