Irish Thunder to Perform Free Concert at Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge Park

The magnificent sounds of the Carillon will be accentuated on Wednesday, August 17 at 7:30 PM during a special Carillon Concert thanks to theiconic bagpipe troupe Irish Thunder.

The renowned pipe and drumming group out of Swedesburg will makes a special visit to the Washington Chapel in Valley Forge Park to perform a special rendition of “The Music of the British Isles” during a free, outdoor concert.

The Carillon Concerts, which occur every Wednesday evening in July and August at 7:30 PM, are one of the Chapel’s most popular events. Guests are welcome to enjoy the sweet sounds of the Carillon and take in the beautiful scenery of the Chapel and Valley Forge Park. The events are always free, but donations are requested to help continue the program.

For more information about The Washington Memorial Chapel, visit http://wmchapel.org/heritage/ and http://www.savewashingtonmemorial.org/ to learn about the campaign.

About The Washington Memorial Chapel

The Washington Memorial Chapel was built as a tribute to General George Washington and the Continental soldiers who survived the brutal winter cantonment at Valley Forge in 1778-1779. The inspiration for the Chapel resulted from a sermon preached by the founder and first rector, the Rev. Dr. W. Herbert Burk, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. In June 1903 the cornerstone was laid on private property donated by the I. Heston Todd family. A small framed building preceded the present structure which became known as the Theodore Roosevelt Chapel, in honor of President Roosevelt, who visited the site in 1904. The Chapel was completed in 1917. It is the home of an active parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Designed by Milton B. Medary, Jr., the Chapel was erected for two purposes. It is the home of an active parish as well as a national memorial to Washington and the Continental Army, welcoming visitors from all over the world and serving as a “wayside chapel” for those who visit Valley Forge National Historical Park.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Both the Chapel and the Washington Memorial Heritage are private organizations. Visitors are often surprised to learn that the Chapel receives no funding from the National Park Service and is not formally affiliated with the Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Washington Memorial Heritage was created as a secular nonprofit, independent of the Chapel. It is a qualifying charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. This allows foundations and individuals who might not contribute to a purely religious organization to aid in the preservation of this magnificent building, which has been described as one of the foremost examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States.