Battell Chapel

Battell Chapel is a university chapel at Yale in New Haven, built from 1874 to 1876 with funds from Joseph Battell. The building shows High Victorian Gothic style with brownstone construction, Ohio sandstone decorative details, oak paneling, and a coffered ceiling painted blue with gold leaf accents.

The chapel was built from 1874 to 1876 with donations from Joseph Battell, a Yale alumnus and philanthropist. After opening, it served as a mandatory prayer space for Yale students until 1926, when the requirement ended.

Religious symbols like the Greek Cross and Trinity Shield are displayed throughout the chapel, showing Yale's roots in Congregational faith. Today visitors encounter these marks as they move through the space, which helped shape the university's early character.

The building serves as both a religious space for University Church services and a concert venue for musical performances from the New Haven area. Visitors should check opening times, as these may change depending on events scheduled inside.

The chapel contains stained glass memorial windows designed by Russell Sturgis that honor Yale's early benefactors and presidents. These windows are dedicated to the memory of Elihu Yale, the person after whom the university was named.

Location: Connecticut

Inception: 1876

Architects: Russell Sturgis

Architectural style: High Victorian Gothic

Operator: Yale University

GPS coordinates: 41.30900,-72.92800

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:08