4th Ward Chapel - 1913

The Fourth Ward chapel in Lehi, constructed around 1912–1913, was more than just a place to worship—it reflected a community’s ambition, resourcefulness, and reverence for meaningful symbolism. Before the chapel ever rose, members of the Fourth Ward held meetings in unconventional spaces: the Lehi Savings Bank and even the old Sego Lily School building. To secure funds for the dedicated structure, the Relief Society ladies organized a six-day bazaar at the local opera house, raising about $700—a sizable sum for the time—to help launch the construction.  

Even before the chapel’s upper floor was completed, the congregation made use of the basement. In fact, as early as 1912, they were meeting in that lower level, long before the rest of the building was finished. The basement was ingeniously designed: a large open space that could be partitioned into smaller classrooms with curtains, or left open for dances, social gatherings, or ward-wide events.  

Perhaps one of the most poetic touches to the chapel was its stained glass window, donated in 1918 by Robert Gilchrist, a Scottish immigrant and member of the ward. Placed on the west wall of the meetinghouse, the window featured a central beehive—an emblem of diligence and community effort—flanked by flowing motifs of flowers, trees, and clouds. When the original chapel was later taken down, the window was rescued and installed in another church building in Lehi rather than being lost to history. 

In 1952 the building underwent substantial renovation, with expansions added to its north side, reflecting the evolving needs and growth of the congregation over the decades. Although the original chapel no longer stands—demolition occurred sometime after 1985—its physical presence may be gone, but pieces of its spirit endure. The stained glass window survives in a nearby congregation’s building, reminding new generations of the artistry and faith that once graced the Fourth Ward’s walls. 

The story of that 1913 chapel is, in many ways, a story of the people of Lehi: their willingness to sacrifice, their creativity in making multipurpose spaces, and their awareness that even a humble meetinghouse could carry visual and symbolic power.