The Portiuncula Chapel

The original Portiuncula Chapel in Assisi, Italy, takes its name from the “Little Portion” of land where St. Francis of Assisi is said to have received his call to serve the poor in the year 1208.

The Portuncula Chapel at the Mayslake Peabody Estate is the only known replica of the original chapel in the United States and is considered a work of art. Built as a memorial to coal magnate Francis Stuyvesant Peabody by his family, the chapel was originally located on the south side of the lake where Peabody died in August 1922.

The chapel was moved to its present location near the mansion in 1973. Behind the chapel lies a semi-circular memorial wall that shelters a beautiful flower and herb garden. The wall was constructed and cared for by the Franciscan Order, owners of the estate until 1993.