Thorncrown Chapel
Nestled in the Ozark woodland in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Thorncrown Chapel rises forty-eight feet into the trees, a cathedral of glass and timber reaching toward the Arkansas sky. With 425 windows and more than 6,000 square feet of glass, light does not merely enter this sacred space — it dwells there. Resting upon over 100 tons of native stone, the chapel seems less constructed than discovered, as if it grew from the forest floor itself.
Since 1980, more than nine million pilgrims have stepped into this woodland sanctuary. Designed by renowned architect E. Fay Jones, Thorncrown has received the highest honors of the American Institute of Architects, including the Design of the Year Award and the distinguished 25 Year Award, and was named among the greatest architectural achievements of the twentieth century.
Weddings
Thorncrown Chapel is Eureka Springs’ beloved wedding sanctuary — a place where vows are spoken beneath trees and light. Since 1980, couples from around the world have gathered in this glass cathedral in the woods, surrounded by ancient stone, whispering leaves, reflections, and shifting shadows.
With more than 6,000 square feet of glass and 425 windows, your ceremony feels both outdoors and indoors at once — held in nature’s embrace, yet wrapped in quiet, air-conditioned comfort.
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"I saw opportunity here to create architecture. The distinction I am making is that all building isn’t architecture, just as all writing isn’t literature or poetry, even though the spelling, grammar, and syntax might be correct. There is something in architecture that touches people in a special way, and I hoped to do that with this chapel."
Fay Jones
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"Fay’s masterpiece whispers in your ear that there is splendor all around us and that all of life is an experience of the divine. We rarely hear such good news in a world filled with distractions and distressing images. Thorncrown is a place where we retreat to truth and open the eyes of our heart. We see the glory and realize we are a part. "
Doug Reed
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"It stands out like a jewel of exquisite simplicity and inspiring beauty. "
Wolf Von Eckardt
Explore Thorncrown
Architecture
Designed by world-renowned architect E. Fay Jones, Thorncrown Chapel is a masterpiece of harmony between architecture and nature. Explore what inspired Fay’s vision, the meaning behind his remarkable design, and resources for further study.
Photo gallery
Our official photographer, Randall Connaughton, has captured Thorncrown Chapel in stunning images across the seasons and from a variety of perspectives.
