After meeting in homes and the local school building for 30 years, the local congregation organized to construct its own church building. One hundred and ten families pledged a total of $3500. The Chapel was built in 1915, with a formal dedication on Dec 5, 1915. While officially the First United Methodist Church of Forest Home, it is known as the
Forest Home Chapel.
At the time of construction, it was noted that the Chapel was designed "along Colonial lines modified by the use of modern materials. This fine example of the Colonial Revival, which features a shingle wall covering possesses a fine entrance doorway, containing Ionic pilasters with Doric caps, and a fan light. Also prominent are a gable-end fan light window, six over six double hung windows and a modillioned cornice with returns. The hipped-roofed worship area carries over the Colonial theme of the exterior, especially in the simply but well designed altar and pulpit."
The 1991 description in the Building-Structure Inventory Form includes, "This is an L-shaped one-story structure with a gable roof and returns and wood shingle siding. Colonial Revival elements of the design include the wide frieze modillions arranged like dentils under the eaves, fanlights in the gable ends and a classically inspired main entryway. The main entry door is flanked by fluted pilasters and topped with a fan light. Windows are six-over-six double hung sash. A small bell tower rises above the roof at the intersection of the two wings. It features shingle siding louvered openings and a pyramidal roof. The Chapel's interior consists of a small hallway and spacious sanctuary. The room contains an elevated altar space with panelled altar rail and pulpit, hardwood pews, six small chandeliers and a chair rail on the stucco covered walls, The ceiling is recessed above a cornice molding and slanted in a hip roof configuration."
For the history of the Forest Home Chapel as an institution, see:
Included in
Forest Home Historic District with USN 10906.000061. To access the Building-Structure Inventory Form (sometimes referred to as the "Blue Form"), from which the architectural details above are drawn, follow these
Lookup Instructions.