The Boynton Chapel is a small wooden chapel built in a late 12th-century Norwegian stave church (stavkirke) style. Handcrafted by Winifred and Donald Boynton between 1939 and 1947 on the grounds of their summer residence, the chapel is modeled after the Garmo stave church at Maihaugen in Lillehammer, Norway. A popular site for weddings and a favorite stop among Door County tourists, the chapel contains 41 hand-painted frescoes and numerous exceptionally fine carved-wood furnishings.
The chapel is a seasonal building, so although it is available year-round, the temperature inside the building is the same as the temperature outside. The chapel accommodates 36 people sitting in pews. The lighting of candles or use of electric equipment (i.e. space heaters) is not allowed in the chapel. Battery operated candles and boom boxes are permitted.
Lawrence University’s fee for the use of the Björklunden chapel is $425. This fee is for use of the chapel only; there are no facilities for dressing, handling groups if it rains, or public restrooms. There is a two-hour time limit that must be strictly adhered to, as we often have multiple services on the same day.
