Battell Chapel, New Haven

Battell Chapel is the largest chapel of Yale University, located on the historic Old Campus in New Haven. Constructed between 1874 and 1876, it was primarily funded by Joseph Battell and other members of his family. Designed in the High Victorian Gothic style, the chapel features a striking exterior of rough brown New Jersey sandstone with decorative elements made of blue Ohio sandstone.

This building succeeded two earlier Yale chapels and served as the space for daily worship services, which were mandatory for all (male and mostly Protestant) Yale College students until 1926. Alongside Durfee Hall and Farnam Hall, Battell Chapel was part of a 19th-century initiative to define the perimeter of the Old Campus and create a stronger visual and structural separation from the rest of the city.

Inside, the chapel features a flat coffered ceiling made of wooden beams, painted blue and adorned with gold leaf. Solid oak paneling and pews line the interior, while religious symbols such as the Greek Cross and the Shield of the Trinity are displayed on the upper pier walls, reflecting Yale’s Congregational and Trinitarian heritage.

One of the chapel’s distinctive features is its now-silent clock and bell chime system, once a timekeeping reference for the entire university. The organ, gifted by Irene Battell Larned (Joseph Battell’s sister), and the Apse Memorial Windows—designed by architect Russell Sturgis and installed in 1876—honor Yale benefactors and its early leadership, including Elihu Yale and the university’s first nine presidents.

Today, Battell Chapel hosts University Church services and concerts by local ensembles, including youth and civic orchestras. It is also a recognized site on the Connecticut Freedom Trail, reflecting its cultural and historical importance.

*** Amistad Freedom Trail ***
The Chapel symbolizes the role the Yale Divinity School faculty and students played in helping the Mende Africans of La Amistad and houses a themed exhibition maintained by Yale.