Historic LDS Architecture: Architecture Highlights: International Mormon Architecture
Note: This post is updated with new pictures.
The history of the LDS Church means that most significant architecture (built anywhere before 1950) is found in the Mormon corridor. Almost all of my posts focus on meetinghouses, chapels, tabernacles, and temples built in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, California, and Arizona. However, I’ve had several readers message me asking about historic international architecture. Here are some highlights I’d like to share:
Mexico
The Church has a long-established history in Mexico, beginning with the Mormon Colonies (just south of the border) in the 1880s. Two colonies still remain–Colonia Dublan and Colonia Juarez–and both have great examples of historic buildings. Dublan has this former meetinghouse, constructed in 1898, which now serves as a museum:
Colonia Juarez has the historic academy (the only stake academy that remains in its original form, and the old LDS-run high school in Mexico), constructed in 1904.
However, many other significant historic chapels are found throughout Mexico. I ended up serving in one of these on my mission (which I found out later). The best source to find these chapels is the Mormon Images Instagram account. Here a just a couple of good examples:
This is a chapel constructed of native stone in Santiago Tezontlale, State of Hidalgo. (It’s a small town north of Mexico City). It was built in 1933, and is very likely the oldest chapel still in use by the Church. From what I can see a newer chapel connects to it, so my guess is that this original chapel now serves as some type of classroom.
In another nearby town, Tula, there is a chapel with a tower. It was built in the late 1920s, but largely reconstructed in 1951.
This chapel is the only one I’m aware of that has stained glass in the country.
South America
The oldest chapel in South America is located in Joinville, Brazil. A number of Latter-day Saints from Europe, mostly Germany, had moved to Joinville. In 1929 they acquired an old house to serve as a chapel, and while it’s been heavily remodeled, it’s still standing.
New Zealand & South Pacific
New Zealand and the South Pacific have a long history in the Church.One of the oldest chapels there is found in Takaroa in French Polynesia, dating back to 1891. I believe this was originally a Catholic or other Church that the members purchased.
New Zealand has a fair amount of historic architecture in Hamilton, where the Hamilton New Zealand Temple (currently undergoing a renovation) and the former campus of the Church College of New Zealand is located. Most of these buildings were built by labor missionaries serving for the Church. While the temple is being remodeled, many of the buildings of the closed campus have been largely remodeled or rebuilt entirely. Pictured below is the remodeled Wendell B. Mendenhall Library, which now houses historic exhibits. The architecture is much less ornate due to the conditions in which it was built, but it’s significant just the same.
Canada
Most of the Church’s historic identity in Canada traces back to the Cardson area, which I’ve visited and written about. However, the first chapel in Eastern Canada is found in Toronto, built in 1939.
The building has since had additions, but the current primary room is the old chapel. It has high ceilings, stained glass windows, a dark oak pulpit with “Thy Word is Truth” carved into it, and an original bench.
Europe
Much more well-known is the Gadfield Elm chapel, built in 1836 by a religious group (the United Brethren) that entirely converted to the LDS faith 4 years later, thanks to Wilford Woodruff. The chapel was sold in 1842 to fund emigration, but was bought back by LDS members in 1994, and given to the Church in 2004. It’s still open and operated as a historic site.
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| (Image Source: Wikipedia) |
That’s all I have for now. What did I miss? Has anyone else visited a unique LDS meetinghouse outside of the Mormon corridor, historic or not?
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