Unity Chapel

Unity Chapel is a historic Shingle Style chapel located in the town of Wyoming, Iowa County, Wisconsin, near Spring Green, built in 1886 by the descendants of Welsh immigrants Richard and Mallie Lloyd Jones as a family place of worship, community meeting house, and occasional school.^[1]^[2] Designed primarily by Chicago architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, with interior details contributed by a young Frank Lloyd Wright—Silsbee's apprentice and a relative of the family—the structure features a simple L-shaped plan, steeply pitched hipped roof covered in wood shingles, a rock-faced stone foundation, and an open entry porch supported by square piers.^[3]^[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 for its architectural significance as one of the few remaining examples of the early professional relationship between Silsbee and Wright, influencing Wright's later Shingle Style works.^[2] The chapel's construction was funded through family subscriptions and erected adjacent to "the Grove," a traditional Lloyd Jones family gathering site in the Wyoming Valley, where the family had settled in the mid-1860s after immigrating from Wales in 1844 seeking religious freedom as Unitarians.^[1] Key family members included minister Jenkin Lloyd Jones, who led services there, and his sisters Jane and Ellen, who later founded the nearby Hillside Home School in 1887, for which Wright also designed structures.^[1] Over the years, it hosted worship services, funerals, weddings, and community events, including summer services by local Unitarian congregations, while remaining under family stewardship.^[3] Architecturally, the chapel exemplifies late 19th-century Shingle Style with its asymmetrical massing, multi-pane double-hung windows arranged in groups of three, and a small square belfry with arched openings, all emphasizing horizontal lines and natural materials that blend with the rural landscape.^[2] Its interiors, finished by Wright, include exposed wooden beams and simple furnishings that reflect early modernist restraint.^[3] Located across from Wright's Taliesin estate and within the Unity Chapel Cemetery—where Wright and several family members are buried—the site holds ongoing cultural importance, available today for rentals such as weddings and preserved through community donations and maintenance.^[3]^[2]

Background and Location

Site and Setting

Unity Chapel is situated in the town of Wyoming, Iowa County, Wisconsin, approximately 2 miles south of Spring Green off State Highway 23.^[4] Its precise coordinates are 43°07′57″N 90°03′39″W.^[2] The chapel is nestled within the rolling hills of the Spring Green Valley, a scenic rural landscape characterized by picturesque bluffs and valleys in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin.^[5] It lies in close proximity to the Wisconsin River, which shapes the surrounding topography, and is adjacent to Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's estate, as well as the Lloyd Jones family cemetery where the architect is buried.^[2] The area was settled by Welsh immigrants, including Wright's ancestors, during the mid-19th century amid the Civil War era, as families like the Lloyd Joneses established farming communities in the Wyoming Valley seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity after arriving from Wales in 1844.^[1]

Lloyd Jones Family Heritage

The Lloyd Jones family originated in rural Wales, where Richard Lloyd Jones and his wife Mary (Mallie) Thomas James, devout Unitarians and farmers, faced religious persecution and economic hardship in the mid-19th century. In 1844, they emigrated to the United States with their seven children, seeking greater religious freedom and economic opportunities; tragically, one child died during the voyage across the Atlantic. After arriving in the United States, the family settled in Ixonia, Wisconsin, in 1845, relocated to the Spring Green area in 1856, and moved to the nearby Hillside farm in 1863. This settlement in Wyoming Valley, a fertile region south of Spring Green, became the heart of their American life, where they farmed and nurtured their Unitarian faith amid the pioneer landscape.^[1]^[6] The family's Unitarian beliefs, rooted in progressive thought, rational inquiry, and a rejection of orthodox dogma, profoundly shaped their communal and spiritual practices. Emphasizing unity among diverse beliefs and a commitment to social reform, they initially held informal worship services in natural settings like "the Grove" on their Wyoming Valley property. These gatherings underscored the chapel's eventual purpose as a private family worship space, free from denominational constraints and dedicated to contemplative, inclusive spirituality. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, the youngest surviving son born in 1843, emerged as a pivotal figure in this tradition; after serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, he became a renowned Unitarian minister, founding All Souls Unitarian Church in Chicago in 1882 and launching the influential Unity magazine to promote liberal religion. As uncle to architect Frank Lloyd Wright—through his sister Anna Lloyd Jones, Wright's mother—Jenkin actively fostered family reunions and spiritual life at the Wyoming Valley gatherings, envisioning the chapel as a unifying symbol of their heritage.^[1]^[7]^[8] The broader Lloyd Jones legacy extended into architecture and social reform, leaving an indelible mark on American culture through familial ties. Frank Lloyd Wright's early exposure to the family's ideals and landscape directly influenced his organic architecture principles, with the Unity Chapel serving as one of his first commissions in 1886. Meanwhile, relatives like sisters Jane and Ellen Lloyd Jones advanced progressive education by founding the Hillside Home School in 1887 on family land, emphasizing holistic learning and moral development aligned with Unitarian values. This interconnected heritage of faith, innovation, and community endures, with the chapel remaining a focal point for Lloyd Jones descendants.^[1]^[8]^[7]

History

Commission and Construction

In 1885, Jenkin Lloyd Jones, a prominent Unitarian minister and uncle to Frank Lloyd Wright, commissioned Unity Chapel as a private family structure in the Wyoming Valley near Spring Green, Wisconsin, intended to function as a modest "cottage church" for worship services and to provide a dedicated space adjacent to the Lloyd Jones family cemetery for burials.^[2] The family's strong Unitarian heritage, emphasizing simplicity and nonconformist worship, served as the primary motivation for creating this intimate religious site.^[4] The commission was awarded to Joseph Lyman Silsbee, a leading Chicago architect and Wright's early mentor, who was already familiar with Jones from prior work on Unitarian projects and was celebrated for his expertise in the Shingle Style, which emphasized horizontal lines, natural materials, and unadorned forms.^[2] Silsbee's firm handled the primary design from its Chicago office, drawing on the style's emerging popularity in the Midwest during the late 1880s.^[4] Construction commenced soon after the commission and was completed in 1886, resulting in a compact three-room building arranged in a reversed "L" shape to accommodate worship, entry, and ancillary spaces while harmonizing with the rural landscape.^[2] The structure featured a foundation of local rock-faced rusticated stone for stability and was clad externally in wood shingles, reflecting economical use of readily available regional materials.^[2] The remote rural setting presented logistical hurdles, including the overland transport of non-local elements like shingles from suppliers, and required careful site planning to integrate the chapel directly with the existing family cemetery without disrupting its solemn character.^[1]

Early Use and Family Events

Orren Evans Lloyd Jones, a young family member, died of throat cancer on August 12, 1886, at age 28. His funeral was held the next day in Dodgeville, and Unity Chapel was dedicated two days later, on August 15, 1886, marking its role in family commemorations amid recent loss.^[9]^[10]^[11] From its opening, the chapel functioned primarily as a venue for Unitarian worship services, reflecting the Lloyd Jones family's religious heritage as Welsh Unitarian immigrants seeking freedom of belief.^[3] These services, often led by relatives such as Reverend Jenkin Lloyd Jones—a prominent Unitarian minister and Frank Lloyd Wright's uncle—provided spiritual guidance in the rural Wyoming Valley.^[12] Beyond religious observances, it hosted family weddings and funerals, serving as an intimate space for lifecycle events that strengthened familial ties.^[1] The adjacent graveyard established alongside the chapel became the primary burial site for Lloyd Jones family members, including Anna Lloyd Jones Wright, mother of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who was interred there in 1923.^[13] This cemetery underscored the chapel's enduring role in family commemorations, with gravesites for multiple generations of the lineage.^[1] Notably, Frank Lloyd Wright himself was buried in the family plot following his death on April 9, 1959, in Phoenix, Arizona, where a memorial service preceded transport back to Spring Green for interment near his ancestral roots.^[14] His remains rested there until 1985, when they were exhumed and relocated to Taliesin at the direction of his widow, Olgivanna, sparking debate over family legacy and architectural symbolism.^[15] In the isolated rural setting of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Unity Chapel emerged as a vital gathering place for the Lloyd Jones family and occasional public Unitarian meetings, bridging private devotion with limited community outreach.^[13] Its design facilitated such intimate assemblies, accommodating worship, discussions, and even temporary use as a school for local children.^[1] Early upkeep of the chapel was sustained through family subscriptions and contributions, mirroring the original funding model, which ensured minimal structural alterations through the early 20th century.^[2] This approach preserved the building's Shingle Style integrity while supporting its ongoing role in family life.^[1]

Architecture

Exterior Design

The Unity Chapel presents a compact, reversed L-shaped plan, with the short leg extending northward to serve as the entry arm and the long leg oriented eastward, crowned by a steeply pitched hipped roof that converges at the central intersection. At this juncture rises a modest square belfry with a battered base, bell-cast inflected-hipped roof, and four semi-circular arched openings enclosing the bell, adding a subtle vertical accent to the otherwise low-profile form.^[2] The building's foundation consists of rock-faced, rusticated stone walls, providing a sturdy, earthy base that anchors it to the terrain, while the walls and roof are sheathed in uniform wood shingles—often cedar—that create a seamless, continuous cladding blending vertical and horizontal planes. This material choice exemplifies Shingle Style architecture, as pioneered by Chicago architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, who led the design. The asymmetrical massing and lack of ornamental embellishment further underscore the style's rustic ethos, allowing the chapel to integrate harmoniously with the undulating Wisconsin landscape as a subdued, organic presence.^[2]^[4] Entry occurs via a single main portal on the north elevation, accessed through an open side porch elevated three steps above grade and sheltered by a projecting hipped roof extension borne on two square piers, which subtly frames the approach without overpowering the facade. Fenestration is deliberately restrained to foster an atmosphere of seclusion and introspection; double-hung sash windows, arranged in groups of three on the north, south, and west walls—each with twelve small lights in the upper sash and one large pane below—admit measured natural light, while the east wall remains solid and unpierced.^[2]

Interior Elements

The interior of Unity Chapel features an L-shaped layout with a main sanctuary in the longer east-west leg and additional spaces including a vestry and small parlor in the shorter north leg, creating an open and functional space for worship and community use. The sanctuary includes an open nave with pews designed to support intimate services for the Lloyd Jones family and local Unitarian congregation.^[2]^[13]^[1] Materials and finishes emphasize simplicity, with wood paneling and exposed beams providing warmth alongside plain plaster walls that highlight the structure's modest character. Natural light enters the space through grouped double-hung windows on the north, south, and west walls, each with 12 lights in the upper sash and a single large pane below, fostering a serene and connected ambiance. The vaulted cathedral ceiling, an early contribution by Frank Lloyd Wright who oversaw the interior design, enhances acoustics for spoken sermons and hymns while evoking a sense of elevation and reflection.^[2]^[4]^[16] The overall design promotes functionality for worship, with the Shingle Style's influence evident in the seamless flow of natural wood elements from interior to exterior.^[2]^[4]

Significance and Legacy

Frank Lloyd Wright's Contributions

At the age of 19, Frank Lloyd Wright served as an apprentice to Chicago architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee on the Unity Chapel project, where he contributed significantly to the interior design, including possible refinements to the layout and elements such as furniture.^[16] This involvement marked Wright's entry into professional architecture, as he joined Silsbee's firm in 1886 and remained until 1888, gaining hands-on experience in drafting and detailing during the chapel's construction that year.^[17] The project, undertaken for Wright's uncle, the prominent Unitarian minister Jenkin Lloyd Jones, represented the earliest documented work in Wright's career, predating his independent commissions by several years and serving as a foundational apprenticeship opportunity.^[3] Wright's exposure through the Unity Chapel introduced him to key architectural influences, particularly the Shingle Style prevalent in Silsbee's designs, which emphasized horizontal lines, natural materials, and integration with the landscape—principles that aligned with the organic ideals fostered by his Lloyd Jones family heritage.^[16] The family connection to Jenkin Lloyd Jones not only secured the commission but also immersed Wright in a Unitarian environment that valued simplicity and community, shaping his early views on sacred spaces that harmonized with nature.^[3] The chapel's legacy extends to Wright's later oeuvre, exhibiting parallels with designs like Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois (1905), where similar themes of communal worship, geometric clarity, and material unity recur, reflecting the enduring impact of his initial forays into ecclesiastical architecture.^[3] This personal tie is further underscored by Wright's original burial in the adjacent Lloyd Jones family cemetery upon his death in 1959, symbolizing the deep-rooted connection to his Wyoming Valley origins before his remains were relocated to Taliesin West in 1985.^[16]

Preservation and Modern Use

Unity Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 18, 1974, with reference number 74000092, acknowledging its architectural significance as an early example of Shingle Style design and its association with Frank Lloyd Wright, who contributed to its interior detailing as a young apprentice.^[4]^[2] Preservation efforts intensified in the post-1950s era through dedicated work by the Lloyd-Jones family descendants and local community members, who recognized the chapel's role as a family heritage site and architectural landmark. The nonprofit Unity Chapel Inc., established and operated by direct descendants of Richard and Mallie Lloyd-Jones, has overseen maintenance and operations, ensuring the structure's integrity amid its rural isolation.^[18]^[8] In recent decades, including the 2010s, targeted renovations have addressed structural needs such as roof stabilization and accessibility enhancements, allowing the chapel to remain functional while respecting its historic fabric. Today, under Unity Chapel Inc.'s management, the site serves as a venue for weddings, memorial services, community events, and seasonal Unitarian worship, with summer services held annually.^[3]^[19] The chapel's exposed rural position in Wyoming Valley exposes it to weathering from Wisconsin's harsh climate, prompting continuous fundraising campaigns for upkeep, including structural protections and site improvements like the recent Tŷ Bach facility—an on-site addition providing storage, a green room, and restroom for event support. These initiatives underscore the commitment to sustaining the chapel as a living heritage space.^[20]