First Chapel

John Notman, 1846-1847 (1896)

Built in 1847 and eventually demolished 50 years later in 1897, John Notman’s First Chapel was constructed in response to Princeton University’s need for a new place of worship, first called for in 1846. Fitted with vaulted ceilings, wooden pews, and an organ, First Chapel could accommodate over 300 people, exceeding the University’s enrollment at the time. The chapel’s use gradually evolved over time to include both religious and non-religious purposes. It became known as “Old Chapel” after Marquand Chapel’s completion in 1882, and was demolished in 1897 to make room for the construction of a new library.

Rhys Drout '22/John Bachek '20