For over 50 years, the The Vail Interfaith Chapel has been the spiritual heart of the Vail Valley. A home for hope. A space for serenity. A place of peace. For all of life's moments the Vail Interfaith Chapel continues to be a nonpartisan sanctuary for residents and guests alike for dialogue, inspiration, healing and joy. Over 34,000 residents and guests attend worship services each year at the Vail Interfaith Chapel.
As a founding interfaith chapel in the United States, the Vail Interfaith Chapel provides a framework and space to inspire others, both new and old. Located in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Vail Interfaith Chapel is situated in the center of Vail between Vail Village and Lionshead, only steps from other iconic buildings and a key element in the building of the Town of Vail. The Vail Interfaith Chapel opened in 1969 and celebrates over 50 years as the spiritual heart of the Vail community. With six congregation sharing one worship space, unity is inherent in our life here. The Chapel, Ministry building and surrounding grounds are used by over 50,000 people annually, offering arts and education opportunities, support group meetings, and is used as an emergency shelter by the Vail Police Department. The Vail Interfaith Chapel is owned and operated by the Vail Religious Foundation.
For over 50 years, the Vail Religious Foundation has welcomed six congregations under one roof at
the Vail Interfaith Chapel. We support and enrich the spiritual life of our community as a center for
faith and worship, education, emergency services, support groups and the arts. We cultivate
collaboration through interfaith dialogue, celebrating unity and cherishing diversity as part of one
global human family.
The building of the Chapel was a community affair. Vail Associates, Inc. generously donated a beautiful site along Gore Creek, and a two-year fund drive collected monies while involving property owners in consultations about the Chapel’s design.
Virtually all agreed that architecturally, the Chapel should reflect Vail’s alpine ambiance. Ground was broken in September 1968and dedication of the Chapel took place to a “packed house” in November 1969. Reverend Thomas Stone, pastor of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Parish in Minturn and the Reverend Don Simonton of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church officiated, as they were the only two resident clergy at the time.
Over the years, the Chapel has grown in both scope of faiths and physical size. The Ministry Center Building, directly behind the Chapel, has allowed for more worship, office and meeting space, and a caretaker’s apartment was added to the chapel. The interior of the Chapel has been kept as simple as possible. Because the view from the altar included such “God’s masterpieces” as mountains, trees, and the Gore Creek, stained glass windows were deemed unnecessary. As Jewish Sabbath, High Holiday, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah services are regularly held in the Chapel, the wooden interior cross is removable and there is no cross on the steeple.
With the exception of campus and military chapels, the Vail Interfaith Chapel is one of the few community chapels in the country that is home to several worshiping faiths that use the same facility while maintaining their individual denominational affiliations and services.
Organization name
Vail Interfaith Chapel
1969
Tax id (EIN)
84-6042788
Category
Religion-Related, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Public & Societal Benefit
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
19 VAIL RDVail, CO, US, 81657
Avon, CO, US
Edwards, CO, US, 81632