KAYSVILLE — There are more than 130 LDS chapels in Davis County. But the Kaysville Tabernacle is unique, with its colorful stained-glass windows and early 20th century architecture.
This 88-year-old building, 195 W. Center, has always been a regular ward meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and contains the Kaysville 1st, Sunset and Old Mill wards, plus offices for the Kaysville Utah Stake.
The tabernacle, also listed on the State Register of Historic Sites, is a building that combines modern and Greek-revival styling.
"It's definitely different than a normal meetinghouse," said John Pressler, LDS Church head of physical facilities for the Kaysville area.
Richfield and Manti have similar historic chapels still in use, but Kaysville has the only one in north Davis County. "They're wonderful buildings, built solid," he said.
Unlike the much older Bountiful Tabernacle, 51 S. Main, in southern Davis County, the Kaysville Tabernacle is not well-known because it's off Main Street in a quiet residential area.
Kay Blood, a lifelong Kaysville resident who lives across the street from the tabernacle, said meetings in the historic building are special. "The acoustics there are great."
Also, she said, the stained-glass windows add a warm touch and brighten the chapel, especially on sunny mornings.
Blood said it's common for first-time visitors to comment on the different experience the chapel provides in contrast to modern chapels.
Kaysville Stake President Max P. Brough agreed. "There is a special feeling. It's a unique place."
President Brough said the tabernacle's exterior may not be eye-catching because of all the additions to the original structure, but the stake receives numerous requests by people wanting to hold musical recitals because of the superb acoustics.
Unlike in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, all the benches in the Kaysville Tabernacle have been padded, and it can hold 420 people.
The building still uses a boiler for heating — also a rarity among today's LDS chapels in use.
Blood said the church debated whether to tear down the tabernacle in 1972, mainly because it was so hard to heat the old building.
"They had every excuse to tear it down," she said. "Everyone now is so grateful it was saved."
According to research by Peter L. Goss for Utah Historical Quarterly, the Kaysville Tabernacle was designed by Kaysville's own William Robert Allen, perhaps Davis County's first architect.
Although not an active member of the LDS Church, Allen was selected by church leaders for the job and used 33 ink-on-linen drawings for the structure.
"The tabernacle is one of Allen's finest works," Goss concluded.
The tabernacle has a neoclassical design with Roman-arched windows and a raised basement that requires a stairway at the main entrance.
Allen also designed the original Davis County Courthouse, the "Barnes Block" in Kaysville, as well as Kaysville's and Centerville's turn-of-the-century elementary schools.
The Kaysville Tabernacle was dedicated May 24, 1914. It replaced an old adobe meetinghouse across the street that had been used since 1863. Not only was that original building too small, but its recreation hall was destroyed by fire in 1910.
In 1911, serious discussion about a new LDS meetinghouse began, but the $60,000 needed looked like a hard reality for local church members to raise. However, John R. Barnes of Barnes Bank donated the first $6,000, and another donation of $1,000 in land got the project going.
The cornerstone was laid on July 24, 1912, by Bishop Henry H. Blood, Utah's governor from 1933 to 1941.
Elder Francis M. Lyman, president of the Quorum of the Twelve, offered the dedicatory prayer for the tabernacle because LDS Church President Joseph F. Smith was unable to attend.
Funds were raised starting in 1943 to build an adjoining recreation hall, and Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve shoveled the first dirt at the site on Aug. 13, 1949. Elder Evans returned Feb. 17, 1952, to offer the dedicatory prayer on the expanded facility, which included not only a cultural hall but a Relief Society room and a kitchen.
A new wing was added in 1973 that featured additional classrooms, office space and a library.
The tabernacle was remodeled in the late 1970s and was rededicated Nov. 29, 1981, by Elder Robert E. Wells of the First Quorum of the Seventy. This work restored the stained-glass windows, protected them with an exterior shield, upgraded the chapel and improved the sound and cooling systems. Space for offices was added later.