A re-design of the chapel on the St. Joseph campus of Mission Hospital began in 2005. An interfaith committee and interior designer Jaan Ferree planned and executed this new sacred space. On June 10, 2008 it will be open for a ceremony at 11 a.m. Interior designer Jaan Ferree met the dual challenge of updating Mercy Chapel, named for founding sisters of Saint Joseph’s Hospital, and creating an interfaith design motif in the main chapel area. St. Joseph’s merged with Mission in the late 1990’s.
The sacred space is designed to honor natural elements and incorporates original pieces by Western North Carolina craft artists working in wood, ceramic, stained glass, and paint. These works represent talent from the Arts and Crafts movement in Western North Carolina: stained glass artist Martha Mitchell, furniture makers William Everette and Josh Bruton and artist Jesi Trentham.
Mercy Chapel retains the meditative presence of a Christian chapel. Relaxed lighting, new fixtures, and a reupholstered church pew and kneeling benches are some new features. A Venetian plaster finish on the walls by Perry Francis utilizes Earth Paint, a locally made non-toxic natural paint.