Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas United States

The cathedrals of the Middle Ages were massive structures which architecturally expressed a great age of faith. Based on the pointed Gothic arch, these magnificent cathedrals were constructed in a symmetrical style with repetitive elements. The same influence is visible in the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel. Designed by architect, E. Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings of Fayetteville, AR, the chapel is constructed around 15 main arches towering 50 feet high. Within each of the 15 arches are three or four Gothic arches. The Gothic style was chosen for its enduring quality, a quality which is as awe inspiring today as it was in Fourteenth Century Europe. The individuality of the chapel lies not in its links with the past but in its departure from the materials used in those ancient structures.

Glass and steel are the building blocks which exemplify modern man. Thirty-one tons of steel join 4,460 square feet of glass to create its aura of strength, yet weightlessness. Positioned on a wooded hilltop overlooking Lake Norwood, the Chapel is encompassed by towering pines and stately oaks. Because the Chapel's structure is transparent, patterns of light and shadow create an ever changing interior influenced by nature's season at hand. Visitors are invited to experience the peace and serenity of the Chapel, which offers an extraordinary setting for meditation, personal reflection or a place to just relax and enjoy. Special ceremonies such as marriages, renewal of vows, concerts, cultural events, baptisms and memorial services are welcomed. But whether you are touring the Chapel or attending a special service, you will leave the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel with a unique sense of renewed spirit.