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Home > Building > Architecture > Memorial Chapel
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James B. Duke died in 1925, shortly after creating the Duke Endowment
and starting plans for construction of West Campus. In 1929, his
friend James A. Thomas organized a drive to fund projects in memory
of Duke and his family. One of these projects was to add a memorial
chapel and crypt to the plans for the Chapel. The Memorial Chapel
is located off the south transept. In it are the tombs of the University’s
founder and chief benefactors, James B. Duke, his father Washington,
and his brother Benjamin. Their likenesses are carved on the tops
of Carrara marble sarcophagi. Placement of the sarcophagi in the
Chapel is in keeping with the character of a Gothic church. Although
no more members of the Duke family will be buried in the Memorial
Chapel, marble plaques are placed on its wall to memorialize them,
starting with James B. Duke’s daughter Doris.
Interior view of the Memorial Chapel (including the sarcophagi)
The Memorial Chapel seats about 50 people and is ideally suited
for small prayer and Eucharistic services, baptisms, and recitals.
This chapel also houses a small movable Flentrop "box"
organ. The Brombaugh organ was installed in 1997 in a swallows’
nest gallery in the Memorial Chapel.
View of the Memorial Chapel through the gates
The Memorial Chapel has grisaille windows, made of white glass
on which an ivy pattern is painted, with accents of colored glass.
A light silver stain adds a yellow effect to the glass. The wooden
reredos shows Jesus, flanked by Peter and Paul.
View of the Memorial Chapel reredos
Also located in the Memorial Chapel is the baptismal font, a
gift from the Congregation at Duke Chapel. The font was designed
by Eason and Farlow Design, of Chapel Hill, a nationally recognized
firm specializing in design and renovation of churches and church
appointments. The font’s fine wooden millwork, of quarter-sawn
white oak, was built by Hiwassee Furniture Company, of Madisonville,
Tennessee. Fred Wilbur, of Lovingston, Virginia, did the intricate
wood carving, which incorporates several design components of
Gothic architecture already represented in Duke Chapel. The silver
bowl was created by Cunill Silversmiths, of Barcelona, Spain.
Measuring 30 inches in diameter, the bowl is made of a single
sheet of silver (from Mexico), overlaid with a silver cross.
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