Portfolio: Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel

This is a family chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and located on a ranch near Lubbock, Texas. The building is simple in form, elegant in proportion and inspiring for prayer. The chapel’s exterior walls are Texas cream limestone with a rough finish. The stone lintel of the doors is inscribed with the name of the chapel and above it there is a bas relief of the four evangelists. A small plaza creates a forecourt to the chapel and provides a gathering space with planting and a statue of the Sacred Heart. The interior is a barrel vaulted nave focusing on a semicircular apse. The nave is 28’-6” in length, 16’-0” in width and 16’-0” in height and provides seating for 36 people. The interior walls are painted plaster with a wood baseboard and cornice. Six half circular windows bring light from above and also provide natural ventilation. A wooden altar rail and step help to define the sanctuary which has a wood high altar with columns framing an image of the Sacred Heart. There are shrines to the Blessed Virgin and to Saint Joseph on either side of the triumphal arch with areas to light candles and pray. The floor is a Mexican tile and the sanctuary is of marble tile.