James Eddy had Bell Street Chapel built as a temple dedicated “to God, to truth, and humanity.” In its permanence and simplicity of character, the building’s brick face exterior reflects Eddy’s own religious aspirations. The high-arching Romanesque-style windows in the sanctuary allow ample light. The front face of the building, while maintaining a simple character, utilizes a classical appearance with four fluted columns that are capped with Corinthian-style crowns. These support a cornice ... view more »
James Eddy had Bell Street Chapel built as a temple dedicated “to God, to truth, and humanity.” In its permanence and simplicity of character, the building’s brick face exterior reflects Eddy’s own religious aspirations. The high-arching Romanesque-style windows in the sanctuary allow ample light. The front face of the building, while maintaining a simple character, utilizes a classical appearance with four fluted columns that are capped with Corinthian-style crowns. These support a cornice extension of the roof complete with an undergirding frieze. This structure, the top two thirds of the front face, rests upon a simple but eloquent foundation of brownstone with both left front and right front doorways.
The interior of the chapel is open and unobtrusive with simple adornments such as round and beveled orbs sitting atop corner posts on the staircase. The walls of the sanctuary are a soft white tone with dark-wood trim all around. The enclave at the front is painted sky blue and houses a raised, maroon carpeted platform which supports what is called the reading desk (our pulpit). The maroon carpet continues down both side aisles of the sanctuary. In between high-vaulted windows are paintings from James Eddy’s personal collection. Through the windows, the trees from the park next door, where James Eddy’s mansion once stood, can be seen. The many rows of pews are made out of chestnut. The sanctuary’s appearance conveys both profundity and welcome to all who enter.
The lower audience-room (referred to as Eddy Hall) is where we congregate for coffee hour following Sunday morning services, and where we usually hold the smaller lay-led summer services every Sunday during the summer months. It also serves as a place for some of the official business meetings of the society, with other meetings held next door in the parish hall. Adjacent to Eddy Hall are two smaller rooms – one a classroom where Sunday school is conducted for our young people and the other a classroom where our very young children can go to play and socialize in a protected area under adult supervision.
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