Clear Lake chapel offers spiritual respite for travelers

The small white chapel can be seen by people traveling north and south along Interstate 35 in northern Iowa. It welcomes weary travelers who may need a break from the road or a moment for spiritual reflection. In Clear Lake, it’s known as the Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel. It has intrigued me since I first caught glimpse of it years ago during one of our trips to the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

The bright cross high above the altar signals passersby of its location.

Lisa and I finally visited it for the first time last winter. We were in Clear Lake on a business trip, and I sought to check out the chapel. She wasn’t too fond of trudging through about a foot or so of snow between the street and the chapel. But, she played along like a good trooper.

I planned a second visit during warmer weather.  I finally made it back to the roadside chapel this spring. The chapel had a calming effect. I wonder how many people have seen it and pulled off the road for a few minutes of rest and meditation.

Of course, I had to check out the interior. Standing at the pulpit, it looks larger inside than it does from the exterior. I would guess the chapel could seat around 25 people. The Guardian Angel chapel has beautiful stained glass windows. The glass and pews came from area churches.

The chapel was built in 1991 by Jack Kennedy, according to the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce. Kennedy built the church in honor of his aunt, who believed her life was saved by a guardian angel. It was destroyed by fire in 1992, but was rebuilt a year later with assistance from area residents and churches.

I’m a fan of faded art, so when I saw the roadside chapel sign standing among a group of trees and looking weathered, I had to get a closer look. I climbed over a barbed wire fence behind the chapel to see the sign.

I enjoyed my visit to the Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel. It’s open daily from dusk to dawn.