The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

St. Anne Shell Chapel

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St. Anne Shell Chapel, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Institution Name: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Original/Historic Place Name: St. Anne Shell Chapel
Location on Campus: west of the Sisters of Providence Cemetery
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1843	original log construction Unknown
1876	updated, new stone chapel built to replace log chapel Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: none specified

Walls: stone (exterior); shells (interior)

Roof: none specified

Function:

1843-present (2007)

memorial site (shrine)

Significance: history, religion
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Mother Theodore grew up in a French coastal town, with great devotion to St. Anne, patroness of sailors. During a severe storm at sea as she returned from a trip to France, Mother Theodore promised that if the ship was saved, devotion to St. Anne would be fostered among the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The first chapel was a log structure built in 1843, but it was replaced in 1876 by the present stone structure. The altar and walls of the interior are adorned with shells gathered by the Sisters from the Wabash River and arranged in artistic designs, the handiwork of Sister Mary Joseph le Fer de la Motte, assisted by the novices.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

None specified.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections, Facilities Management Office

Other: S. of P. Office of Congregational Advancement