Royer Chapel Community Prayer Garden
& Memorial Brick Wall
Since its establishment in 1897, Royer Chapel has been a treasured gathering space and community beacon. To honor this tradition, our non-profit, the Coshocton County Historic Cemeteries Preservation Collective (d.b.a. Royer Chapel), will be installing a Community Prayer Garden. It is our hope that the garden will create a new passive space for people to pray, reflect, and find solace. We believe this project will help preserve the legacy of Royers, Factors, and other founding St. Nicholas parishioners, while also creating a cherished community asset.
Funding assistance will be provided by the Schooler Family Foundation. The Community Prayer Garden will be installed behind the Chapel near the original St. Nicholas (rear) foundation stones. The garden will be open to the public during daylight hours and will offer a serene and comfortable place for all to enjoy. It will include a memorial brick wall with engraved bricks, planter boxes, benches, landscaping, and prayer altar with a Statue of Mary. The planter boxes will be incorporated into the memorial wall design, as will the altar, which will be positioned roughly where the original St. Nicholas altar stood. The landscaping will provide shade and beauty. See the original rendering to left (project components have changed since the original drawing was drafted).
Memorial Brick Wall
The Community Prayer Garden's centerpiece memorial brick wall includes 80 engraved bricks from our 2022-2023 fundraiser. The wall's design will include an elevated platform in the center, which the Statue of Mary will sit atop, and two built-in planter boxes on either side. Construction started in June 2024. Thanks to the Bice Family/Travis Bice Masonry (Royer descendants) for donating expertise and labor. See the general rendering to right.
