The Boynton Chapel is a small wooden chapel built in a late 12th-century Norwegian stave church style, known as Stavkirke, and finished in 1947.

Handcrafted by Winifred and Donald Boynton between 1939 and 1947 on the grounds of their summer residence, the chapel is modeled after the Garmo stave church at Maihaugen in Lillehammer, Norway. A popular site for weddings and a favorite stop among Door County tourists, the chapel contains 41 hand-painted frescoes and numerous exceptionally fine carved-wood furnishings.

Learn more about this remarkable site, its architecture and artwork, in the book Faith Builds a Chapel: The Story of an Adventure in Craftsmanship by Winifred C. Boynton. The book can be found in many local libraries and can be purchased at Björklunden, The Miller Art Museum, and Kate's Corner Store at Lawrence University. Copies are $30. They can also be purchased and shipped (additional shipping charges will apply). You can place your order by calling Björklunden at 920-839-2216. 

Boynton Chapel

Chapel Tours

Chapel tours are given twice weekly during the summer season, and bus tours are always welcome. The chapel is open for tours from mid-June to late August, Monday and Wednesday afternoons, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. The tour fee is $5 per person.  No reservation is necessary.

Boynton Chapel Weddings

Located on 441 wooded acres along Lake Michigan, the chapel at Björklunden is a picturesque setting for a wedding, baptism, or family service. The staff at Björklunden wishes to help you make this special service a memorable experience, not just for you, but also for your family and friends.

Please note that you are responsible for obtaining the marriage license and for hiring the person to perform the ceremony. Also, the chapel is a seasonal building, so although it is available year-round, the temperature inside the building is the same as the temperature outside. The chapel accommodates 36 people sitting in pews. The lighting of candles or use of electric equipment (i.e. space heaters) is not allowed in the chapel. Fireworks are prohibited.  Battery-operated candles and/or lighting displays and boom boxes are permitted.

Lawrence University’s fee for the use of the Boynton Chapel is $500. This fee is for use of the chapel only; there are no facilities for dressing, handling groups if it rains, or public restrooms. There is a two-hour time limit that must be strictly adhered to, as we often have multiple services on the same day.

Reservation Info

If you have questions, please contact Kim Eckstein, or use this form to begin the reservation process for your chapel wedding.

  • Phone: 920-839-2216.
  • Email: kim.a.eckstein@lawrence.edu
  • Fax: 920-839-2688.
  • Mailing address: Björklunden, P.O. Box 10, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202