Hand-Painted 1920s Beauty

Experience original art deco frescos in Unity Village’s historic Fillmore Chapel

I’d been in the Fillmore Chapel perhaps a half dozen times before, for weddings and other events, and it always seemed difficult to take my eyes off the intricately painted walls.

But this autumn afternoon was the first time I had the chance to enjoy the room on my own.

Sitting alone in the quiet chapel provided the perfect opportunity to take in its unique beauty and long history.

This is considered especially hallowed ground at Unity Village as it is the only chapel on campus where both Unity founders Charles Fillmore and Myrtle Fillmore lectured and taught classes. (Myrtle died only two years after the chapel was finished.)

The windows, doorways, and stage are all framed with swirling designs of flowers, leaves, and decorative patterns. All the frescos on the walls and interior pillars were hand-painted by artist David Ahrends, who used blues, greens, and golds that echo a 1920s vibe. The designs are so detailed and extensive that Ahrends needed two years to complete the job.

The day I visited, the room exuded a feeling of warmth and serenity, a lovely antidote to the chilly weather outside. The chapel made a prime indoor spot for admiring the Bridge of Faith, Unity Tower, examples of the campus’s wrought ironwork, the Rose Garden, and much of the rest of the Village grounds.

I can easily imagine that sunlight filtering through the bank of windows and the building’s exterior decorative archways would illuminate the painted walls and only add to its charm on a beautiful spring day with a breeze blowing through the French doors on either side of the room.

Part of a Master Plan for Unity Village Design

Rickert Fillmore, the founders’ son, commissioned the frescos. He designed the master plan for the campus, as well as many of its buildings, using his own artistic style, architectural training, and love of European design to inspire the Village’s aesthetic.

The chapel is on the first floor of the historic Unity Education Building, originally the Silent Unity Building, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building is also home to the Unity Archives and the tiny Peace Chapel. The building was dedicated in August 1928 at the sixth annual Unity convention at Unity Farm and completed the following year. Paintings originally extended across the chapel’s ceiling, which unfortunately sustained water damage and ultimately had to be removed during a 1989 remodeling that otherwise restored the room to its original appearance.

Today, visitors can enjoy the chapel’s 1920s aura, as well as benefit from its raised stage, piano, bronze chandeliers, and modern spotlights. The room seats up to 100 people and has become a beloved spot for weddings, classes, and other events.

For information about renting Fillmore Chapel for a ceremony or reception, call 816-251-3511 or visit unityvillage.org/weddings. 

This article appeared in Unity Magazine®.