Name

Raised Chapel Plan

General Range

1820-1860

The Raised Chapel Plan was one of the most common types of religious architecture in the mid-19th century. The idea of holding scripture study separate from the primary worship was the impetus for the type. Raised Chapel Plan churches arranged classrooms in the basement level below the main meeting room (still not yet called the nave). The entrance was often opened onto a mezzanine level, with stairs leading down to the classrooms and up to the main meeting room. On the exterior, large windows lit the worship space, aligned vertically over smaller basement windows. As the century progressed, it was more common to have a large window centered on the main front end gable to light the worship space.
 
Interiors of the Raised Chapel Plan included two levels. The worship space on the main level usually featured a chancel-like area with the pulpit and altar/communion table in the far end. Benches (either boxed or open "slip" pews) were usually arranged in two ranks facing the chancel. The lower level usually featured a dark hallway running from the front end to the rear, accessing classrooms along the side walls.

If you have additional information or corrections to the existing information, send an email to info@preservationerie.org.
Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.

Municipality

Name

Address

Albion Borough

136 E STATE ST

Elgin Borough

18240 N MAIN ST

City of Erie

802 E 10 ST

Franklin Township

7471 OLD STATE RD

Girard Township

8622 GUDGEONVILLE RD

McKean Borough

5041 N MAIN ST

McKean Township

6750 WEST RD

Mill Village Borough

14522 S MAIN ST

Waterford Borough

112 W 3 ST