Kane Memorial Chapel

Kane Memorial Chapel is a small stone building employing architectural elements common to both the Early Gothic Revival and the later High Victorian Gothic styles of American architecture.

The gothic chapel remains in excellent condition. Constructed entirely by local labor­ of native greyish-pink stone and outfitted with native cherry wood, the chapel's design is reportedly based on an English model at Kent (from where the English branch of the Kane family originated), and on a small parish church at Alsace, France. According to early accounts, each stone and piece of wood was cut and dressed to shape before its final placement in the edifice, an endeavor purposely conceived to carry out Solomon's principle of building the great temple at Jerusalem. Henry J. Taylor, Philadelphia architect and builder, was a nephew of Ann Gray Thomas, benefactress who initiated construction of the chapel, and, in addition to serving as architect for this project, also rendered valuable assistance in arranging for the actual erection of the building.

Less than two years after the Wellsborough Presbytery (held at Carlisle, Pennsylvania) granted permission for church organization at Kane, construction of the chapel began in 1876. It was funded by Ann Gray Thomas, a wealthy Philadelphian who established a fund of $12,500. To erect the building in memory of her family, the prominent Leipers of Philadelphia, the chapel, McKean County's first Presbyterian church, was built on land donated by Thomas L. Kane. Kane, a nephew of Ann Gray Thomas, was a distinguished humanitarian, civil and military leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

Kane Chapel was acquired by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1970, four years after it was vacated by its original Presbyterian congregation (which merged with another church to form the First United Church of Kane). It was purchased primarily by the Mormons to provide perpetual care of General Kane's grave and to serve as an official memorial to him. Mementoes of his life and papers (including his extensive correspondence with the nation's leaders in the mid-1800s) will be displayed as they are made available by family and friends.