King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Right in the middle of the Valley Forge National Historic Site is the Washington Memorial Chapel, an Episcopal Church dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who formed the backbone of the Continental Army. The chapel defines itself as being “built by the American people, for the American people, as a message to the American people.”
Inside the chapel is gorgeous, with patriotic stained glass and the appearance of a church hundreds of years older than its 1917 completion date. Additionally, a docent was explaining the history of the chapel to the visiting groups. It was unexpected, but somewhat humorous, that a group of bridesmaids showed up in the chapel. The bride-to-be was a huge history buff, and it was enjoyable to eavesdrop on the conversation between the docent and the bridesmaids.
Additionally, the chapel is home to a replica of the Liberty Bell, known as the Justice Bell. The Justice Bell was used from 1915 to 1920 to gain support for women’s suffrage. This bell went to every county in Pennsylvania, covering more than 5,000 miles in six months. Ultimately, the bell’s mission was successful as women gained the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Behind the chapel was the Cabin Chapel Shop. This shop had a kitchen and souvenirs. During my travels, I have found that churches and church groups typically offer decent food at reasonable prices, so we ate lunch at the Cabin Chapel Shop. I gambled on my maxim that I have never had a bad meal in Pennsylvania by ordering a chicken salad sandwich that featured pineapple. Still, overall, it just added a little sweetness and tanginess to a solid chicken salad sandwich. With watermelon and shoo-fly cake, it is a meal combo that I am certain I have never had before, but it worked.
The chapel also has a carillon located in its bell tower. The carillon did not play during our visit, but a concert would be a very good reason to return. The Church lists the concerts on its website.
The Washington Memorial Chapel is a beautiful church and a great tribute to the patriots who fought to establish and protect our country. In the United States, the lines between nationalism and faith can be blurred by many people in the general population. Still, the blending is done with care, as exemplified by the Washington Memorial Chapel, especially since Freedom of Religion became one of the rights enshrined by the American Republic. The Washington Memorial Chapel is still a practicing Episcopal Church on land surrounded by the National Park Service, and serves members in the surrounding community. The stop at the Washington Memorial Chapel was a highlight of our visit to Valley Forge.