Built in a late 12th century Norwegian stave church style, the Boynton Chapel in Door County was handcrafted by Winifred and Donald Boynton. Winifred learned woodcarving and fresco techniques as they worked on the chapel. There are numerous carvings like the dragon arch of the doorway, fifty-two gargoyles under the eaves, the twelve apostles, carved pews, raised pulpit, altar and baptismal font. Winifred Boynton also painted forty-one frescoes which decorate the interior.
Boynton Chapel
In the 1850s, Belgian immigrants began to settle in the southern Door, northwest Kewaunee and northeast Brown counties of Wisconsin. They brought their religion tradition of roadside chapels with them to a wilderness area with poor roads and few churches. Some of the old chapels still exist today as well as some new ones. Most are a wooden building, that at first glance might resemble a privy, if not for the cross near the door. This Saint Donat Chapel is one of thirty remaining roadside chapels which was built from stone. It is believe to have been constructed a few years after Charles DeVillers settled his land in 1856.
Stone Roadside Chapel
On a knoll in Durward’s Glen, sit the St. Mary’s of the Pine Chapel, which was built by Bernard Durward, three of his sons, Charles, John and James, with help from neighbors in 1866. The nearest church at the time was 10 miles away so Bernard built it so his wife, Margaret, would not have to walk so far for church. The stone walls are 17 inches thick, which remained standing after a fire burned the chapel in 1923. The chapel restoration was completed in 1929.
Bernard and Margaret raised all of their 8 children at the glen and remained until their deaths. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the chapel and two of their sons, John and James, celebrated their first priestly Mass in the chapel. All the family, except for Andrew, is buried in the family cemetery on the front side of the chapel.
The Durward family sold the land to the Roman Catholic Order of St. Camillus in 1932. The order established a seminary on the land, where it trained priests beginning in the 1930s. Many priests and brothers from the order are laid to rest in this peaceful spot behind the chapel.
St. Mary’s of the Pine
Hidden on top of St. Anne’s Hill, sits a quaint stone chapel dedicated to St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose feast day is today. The St. Anne’s Shrine consists of the fourteen Stations of the Cross, which line the path from St. Luke’s Catholic Church to the top through a cow pasture, a replica of the Lourdes Grotto in addition to the chapel.
Five years after a cross was first fashioned from stones on the summit of Council Bluff by Father Surges and two visiting priests, the shrine was dedicated in Plain, Wisconsin. Held on the Feast of St. Anne, the July 26, 1928, dedication was attended by more than 1,000 parishioners and guests.
Some of the “pretty” rocks in the communion rail came from my grandmother’s flower garden, but since I didn’t circle on the picture when she pointed her rocks, I don’t remember which ones they are.
Inside St. Anne’s Hill Chapel
On a hill in southwestern Wisconsin, a small chapel built in 1903 overlooks the valleys emerging from long winter as signs of spring begin to emerge. The small shrine was rededicated to Our Lady of the Fields in 1958 by Bishop William O’Connor.
With the spring planting underway, ladies and men are working in the fields and inside the shrine is a statue of Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers.
Our Lady of the Fields Shrine
Saint Isidore
