The Upper Room Chapel and Museum: modest pews, grand experience
Explore a chapel and museum at the same time at a local religious location.
The Upper Room Chapel and Museum was formerly an iconic Catholic Church located close to downtown Nashville. The place of worship was later turned into a museum for visitors to enjoy both a spiritual and historical experience.
The Upper Room Chapel welcomes thousands of visitors each year. The chapel brings speakers of different denominations and countries to take part in Wednesday services while visiting choirs from Nashville and other locations provide a special musical service.
The chapel’s mystique is found in the simple things such the modest pews, high ceilings and tapestries. Also adding to the grandeur of the chapel are the winding stairs leading to the pulpit, which has some features of significant pulpits such as St. George’s Church in Philadelphia and St. Philip’s Church in Charleston, South Carolina. But what captivates visitors the most is the focal point of the chapel, a woodcarving of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.” The work of art was created by more than 50 people over 14 months. The carving is 17 feet wide and eight feet high with a depth of 8 inches.
The Upper Room Museum has a permanent collection of religious-based manuscripts, books and various art pieces. In December and January the museum exhibits its collection of nativity scenes, with more than 100 renditions from cultures around the world. From Ash Wednesday through April, a special collection of more than 70 Ukrainian eggs hand-designed by Cheryl Christensen that tell the story of Easter using Christian symbols.
The chapel and museum are open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and closed Saturdays, Sundays and all major holidays. Worship services are 8:30 a.m.-9 a.m. on Wednesdays. Prepare to spend at least an hour touring the premises. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for groups, students and seniors.
Posted by Leah M. Caudle
