I had heard people talk of the simple splendor and hidden majesty of “that old chapel in the cemetery.” Well, when waiting for a train back to Albany, I decided to trek down to Mt. Hope Cemetery and explore the old chapel. I was exceedingly thrilled that the lock on the front door of the chapel was broken, so I was easily able to squeeze into the building. It was undeniably transcendent.

I have 90 more photos of the interior, so please don’t hesitate to ask for them. Just email cleansingfire@live.com. Feel free to ask questions in the comment box. The background of the building is rooted in Rochester history. When the cemetery was growing, the city decided that a more permanent chapel should be erected, to replace the smaller one which had begun to show its age. This was in the later-half of the 1800’s. The chapel was used to funerals and memorial services until the 70’s, I am told, when it was just left to rot. However, the president’s stimulus package sent a hefty sum of money to the City of Rochester to restore (not renovate, restore) the chapel to its former glory.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcYSmaPkQ3Y]

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