For more than 140 years, the Lawrence Chapel has been a peaceful, charming and historic setting for private and public events, including wedding, musical performances meetings and picnics. Located on Route 228 in rural Town of Catharine, Schuyler County, NY, the lovely, non-denominational Chapel is managed and cared for by the Schuyler County Historical Society. The dramatic interior impresses wit
h trusses soaring to a vaulted ceiling, colored glass windows and quaint wooden pews facing an altar space with reminders of the family that opened the Chapel in 1881. Contact the Historical Society at [email protected].
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WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE LAWRENCE CHAPEL? The Lawrence Chapel has represented celebration of commitment, enduring care for family and faith amplified in a simple setting for more than 140 years. This non-denominational space – peaceful, lovely, charming, historic – continues to be a popular site for weddings and other private and public events. The Chapel, sometimes referred to as the Lawrence Memorial Chapel, is located in rural Town of Catharine in southeastern Schuyler County, near the shores of Cayuta Lake, in New York’s beautiful Finger Lakes Region. The Gothic Revival-style Chapel and the adjacent Lawrence Family cemetery are located on a knoll along New York State Route 228 outside the Village of Odessa. The property is owned, meticulously cared for and managed by the Schuyler County Historical Society, based in nearby Montour Falls. Montour Falls, with impressive Chequagua Falls on Main Street, and Watkins Glen, site of world-renowned Watkins Glen State Park and Seneca Lake, are cornerstones of a region that attracts more than 1 million visitors. Nature’s wonders, the Watkins Glen International racetrack, numerous wineries, breweries and creameries and a rich human history are this area’s marvels. Since the first gathering in 1881, weddings have been celebrated, babies have been baptized and religious and secular music has resounded to the rafters. The Chapel is mostly unaltered since it was built. The Chapel walls are built of local stone. The gable roof is made of variegated slate, laid in rows with alternating scalloped and straight edges. The simple but dramatic interior is highlighted by wooden trusses to the vaulted ceiling, 25 feet high. Sunlight filters through 10 leaded-glass windows. The glass borders are painted in colorful geometric and flowered patterns. The central clear glass is etched with fleur-de-lis designs. Facing the altar area are 24 straight-backed, wooden pews with gracefully carved armrests. The pews can seat approximately 120 people. The Chapel has electricity, but a simple heating system limits usage to May through October. There are no toilet facilities. Parking is limited. A driveway may be used to take people with mobility issues to the Chapel’s front door. Events at the Lawrence Chapel are often paired with activities at the adjacent Fontainebleau Inn. The Historical Society is not affiliated with the Inn. For complete details about this space where timeless memories are made, contact the Schuyler County Historical Society by emailing [email protected] or calling 607-535-9741.
