Kumler Chapel

Kumler Chapel
Kumler Chapel in 2011
General information
Type	chapel
Architectural style	Transitional Gothic
Location	Oxford, OH
Town or city	Oxford
Country	United States
Coordinates	39°29′59.29″N 84°44′34.95″W / 39.4998028°N 84.7430417°W / 39.4998028; -84.7430417
Current tenants	Miami University
Construction started	1917
Completed	September 1918
Opened	November 28, 1918
Cost	Unknown
Owner	Miami University
Technical details
Lifts/elevators	none
Design and construction
Architect	Thomas Hastings
Other information
Seating type	pews

Kumler Chapel is a building of architectural interest located on the Western Campus for Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. It was built in 1917-18 for what was then the Western College for Women by the architect Thomas Hastings, in a "Transitional Gothic" style with both Gothic and Romanesque influences. It is now a venue for church services and weddings.

Kumler Chapel was constructed beginning in 1917, suffered from a structural collapse, and was then rebuilt beginning in June and completed in September 1918. Kumler Chapel was built on the Western College for Women campus, which is now a part of the Western Campus for Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Kumler Chapel replaced an older chapel. The building became to be due to the beneficence of Mrs. Anna Kumler Wright, an alumna of Western College for Women, and her sister Ella Kumler McKelvy, also an alumna of Western College for Women. The sisters decided to have Kumler Chapel built in honor of their parents: their father, Reverend J.P.E. Kumler and their mother, Mrs. Abbie Goulding Kumler.

Kumler Chapel was originally dedicated on November 10, 1916 yet it was not finished being built until September 1918. November 28, 1918 became the official Dedication Day for Kumler Chapel; this site was completed and a piece of ivy was removed from a neighboring building, Peabody, and was attached to the east side of Kumler Chapel. The building’s arch and mortar collapsed on February 26, 1918 at 4:20pm. This collapse was a major setback for the construction of Kumler Chapel. The cost of Kumler Chapel was never revealed, and the total cost was divided between the Kumler sisters as well as the architect, Thomas Hastings of New York.

The chapel was originally used for church services, baccalaureates, and convocation for the Western College for Women. During the 1970s, two Chapel Interns were appointed from among the seminary students to assist in developing the religious life of Western College for Women. The two interns were to be one man and one woman who were not married. These interns helped develop the use of the chapel for weddings and other activities.