3 Chapel Road ~ Windham, NH

In 1909, the Town of Windham took ownership of the newly constructed Searles School and Chapel from its most eccentric resident, Edward Francis Searles. The building, built at a cost of approximately $40,000, and the land on which it rests was offered as a trade for the Town's School House No. 1.

Constructed of granite in the Tudor-style, the building was designed with a multitude of exquisite details including: cathedral-style cypress ceilings and matching cypress paneling throughout, hand-carved arched doorways, and intricate stained glass windows. A large tower was erected centrally to connect the easterly chapel room and westerly school room, which held within twelve melodious carillons of sandblasted bronze.

Over the years, the building was home to Sunday services, elementary school students, and for a number of years, the Windham Cooperative Kindergarten. As it's occupancy changed, many of the the building's intricate charms were hidden. Suspended ceilings were hung and linoleum laid, camouflaging the exquisite ceilings, floors, and the cathedral-style tops of the stained glass windows.

Eventually, structural issues caused the building to fall vacant and the monumental task of its restoration was undertaken by the Windham Historic Committee. Through donations and with the support of the residents, the Committee first restored the building structurally then tackled the chapel room. As the suspended ceilings were torn down and the vaulted ceilings revealed, many caught their first glimpse of the charm within the Searles building. In 1996, the chapel was complete and the building's newest era as a function facility began. In 2004, restoration of the main hall was also completed, making the full splendor that is the Searles School and Chapel available to enjoy.