Knowles Memorial Chapel

Knowles Memorial Chapel is a Mediterranean Revival building at Rollins College featuring a bell tower, decorative stained glass windows, and a circular window representing the seven liberal arts. The structure serves the college community for worship and important campus gatherings throughout the year.

Frances Knowles Warren donated the chapel in memory of her father Francis Bangs Knowles, who founded both Rollins College and Winter Park in the late 1800s. The building became a defining landmark of the young institution during its formative years.

The chapel hosts the Bach Festival of Winter Park each winter, drawing musicians and audiences to experience concerts within its ornate Mediterranean setting. These performances have become central to the cultural calendar of the college community.

The chapel welcomes visitors during regular hours, offering spaces for prayer and quiet reflection within the campus. Those visiting should dress respectfully and check ahead for services or special events that may be happening on the day of your visit.

Inside the chapel sits an Ernest M. Skinner organ installed in 1932, which blends original pipes with modern mechanical upgrades completed in 2002. This instrument remains a treasured element that draws musicians and audiences to the space.