SATURDAY MARCH 15, 2025

11:00 am GATHER & COFFEE
11:30 am TOUR

GATHER:
1300 S Steele St
Denver, CO 80210
*Meeting location to be sent out the day prior to the tour*

REGISTER HERE
$20 Members, $25 General, Free for Students
Registration is Required, Space is Limited!

Join us for an intimate look at the St. John Vianney Chapel, a jewel of Jules Jacques Benedict’s architectural work. Designed in 1926-31, the chapel represents a culmination of Benedict’s mastery of the Lombard style, a personal interpretation of Romanesque and pre-Renaissance Italian architecture.
 
Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts, Benedict arrived in Denver in 1909 and quickly became one of the region’s most distinguished architects, known for his exquisite craftsmanship, revivalist aesthetics, and commitment to integrating sacred iconography into his designs. His ecclesiastical projects—such as Holy Ghost Catholic Church and the First Church of Divine Science—demonstrate a range from Late Gothic Revival to Classical influences, but it is St. John Vianney Chapel that many consider his finest religious work.
 
The chapel’s intricate brickwork, frescoes, and stained glass, combined with its striking proportions, exemplify Benedict’s use of architecture as a vehicle for storytelling. The design is a testament to his ability to weave symbolism, spirituality, and structure into a cohesive and enduring work of art. Our tour will include an exploration of Benedict's use of iconography of the Catholic religion in his design and use of materiality.