Battell Chapel

Next to our traditional New England white meeting house church on the green is the beautiful stone Battell Chapel.  The most striking room, without doubt, is the chapel itself. Here we have herringbone hardwood floors, soaring beamed ceiling, and marvelous and historic stained glass, including windows by the master Louis Comfort Tiffany. The chapel is an open space (no pews) with a small stage, available tables and Hitchcock chairs for flexible seating, and the Tiffany alcove (the curved space in the picture below) suitable for serving refreshments or small group gatherings. It’s here in this community space that we host wellness classes, receptions, and celebrations.

Our offices, meeting rooms and classrooms are also located here in a separate wing, as well as our large commercial kitchen and dining room areas located on the lower level. The “Loom Room”, Clothes Closet and Norfolk Food Pantry are also on the lower level.

See below for information about the beautiful stained glass in Battell Chapel.

And here is information and pictures for our Commercial Kitchen

Sanctuary/Meeting House

Battell Chapel Stained Glass

Battell Chapel in Norfolk, Connecticut is a gem! It has been called “one of the masterpieces of [architect J. Cleveland] Cady’s ecclesiastical work”.  Battell Chapel has served as a place of beauty, inspiration, and activity for the Church of Christ and for the Norfolk community since it was given in memory of Joseph and Sarah Battell by daughter Urania Battell Humphrey in 1888. The Tiffany Windows (pictured below), added as a gift by Ellen Battell Stoeckel in 1928, have become an important attraction for Norfolk tourism, drawing many visitors each year.If you would like to schedule a tour for yourself or for a group, please use the contact us form below and we will be in touch soon.

At the west end of the Battell Chapel, spectacular in the sunset, are three large stained glass windows, shown above. These windows were designed by D. Maitland Armstrong of opalescent glass, then a new style for window work. Armstrong had spent the past six years working alongside his good friend and fellow artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany. Armstrong and Tiffany, along with their colleague John Lafarge, made significant contributions to new forms of opalescent and layering techniques, including freely using large “gem” pieces of glass in designs, which creates great depth of field and a shimmering effect with the sunlight. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the stained glass work of Armstrong. 

At the other end of the chapel are five smaller but beautifully designed windows by Armstrong’s more famous colleague, Louis Comfort Tiffany. These windows depict the four seasons, with the center window showing a brilliant sunrise, taking it’s theme from the “Sun of Righteousness” wording on the central Armstrong window. The two leftmost windows are “Promise” (Spring) and “Realization” (Summer), with “Fulfillment” (Autumn) and “Rest” (Winter) on the right.

At the end of March 2017 the beautifully restored center altar window was re-installed and the exterior cover was replaced with clear glass, completing Phase I.  At that same time the south altar window was removed and taken to the studio for restoration, beginning Phase II. On August 1, 2017 the south altar window was re-installed (with clear glass exterior cover) and the north altar window was removed for restoration. On November 14, 2017 the restored north altar window was re-installed (with clear glass exterior cover), completing Phase II. In March of 2018 the four Tiffany seasons windows were cleaned and repaired, with clear safety glass exterior covers installed.  The Tiffany Room was also replastered and a replica of the original parlor fireplace was installed. In August of 2018 Phase IV began with the restoration of the southwest (portico) chapel side window. As funds becsme available the northwest chapel side window was been restored in 2020.

‘Contact the Chapel Windows group (Marie Civco, Shelley Harms, Barry  Webber, or Nels White) with any questions or to schedule a tour, or see Contact in the menu.

Contributions to the Windows Project are welcome. Thank you! One time or recurring donations can be made below.

Project Status Update

As of July 2020 Phase I and Phase II of the Battell Chapel Windows Project (3 chapel altar windows) have been completed, with Phase III (Tiffany Room windows) mostly done and Phase IV (4 chapel side windows) half completed. A grand total of $222,550 has been raised for the project.

The Project Team decided to make some changes starting in 2018 and 2019:

1. In order to accommodate new and significant efforts for Church Steeple Repair, we will curtail active fund raising for the Windows Project.

Any remaining funds on hand will be used to continue Phase IV.  We will use only unsolicited donations, grants, notecard sales, tour receipts, etc.  to complete the project.  The remaining chapel side windows will be restored over time as funds become available.  They have been reexamined and do not show imminent signs of collapse.  They will continue to be monitored, with emergency repairs made if required, until all restoration can be completed.

2. Improvements will be made to the Tiffany Room to go along with the work done on the Tiffany Windows.

These improvements include plaster repair, painting, interior window protective covers, lighting, and possibly other items. Total cost is currently estimated at under $20,000 and may not exceed the remainder of the “Other” portion funding planned for the project.