Wally Bronner first viewed the Stille-Nacht-Kapelle—the Silent Night Chapel, dedicated on the site of the first performance of the Christmas carol “Silent Night”—in Oberndorf, Austria, in 1976. That visit fueled his inspiration to build a life-sized replica of the chapel in the United States to commemorate the beloved Christmas hymn.
“Visitors to the Silent Night Memorial Chapel have the opportunity to reflect on the origin of the famous Christmas hymn and what the true meaning of Christmas is,” said Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland President and CEO Wayne Bronner, Wally’s oldest son.
Wally Bronner always spelled Christmas as “CHRISTmas” because he didn’t want the reason for the season to be obscured by decorations and celebrations. Bronner built his holiday business around Christ as his Savior and insisted on living that way by capitalizing the Christ in Christmas.
Today, Bronner’s is a family-run business managed by three of Wally and Irene Bronner’s four children, following his passing in 2008. Irene was also active in the business and passed just weeks before the writing of this article.
The Bronner’s website notes that Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland draws more than 2 million visitors annually and is one of the top 10 man-made attractions in Michigan.
The Early Days
Wally Bronner founded Bronner’s Christmas store in 1945. The business once consisted of three separate locations in Frankenmuth (population 5,193) before the decision was made in 1977 to consolidate the operation and relocate to the south side of town. Several expansions later, Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland now encompasses 5 1/2 football fields and is the world’s largest Christmas store.The Silent Night Chapel sits on the southern tip of the 45-acre property, at the nexus of SR 83 and Weiss Street.
The chapel is an octagonal structure that measures 28 feet by 28 feet and stands 56 feet tall. The beautifully landscaped grounds include an archway, two nativity scenes illuminated at night, blue spruce trees, and black lampposts festooned with big red ribbons.
Different versions of Silent Night play from outdoor speakers, and signs display the lyrics in 300 languages on a walkway around the chapel.
The chancel of the original Silent Night Chapel can be seen inside through a glass partition, although Wayne Bronner noted that the Oberndorf city government stipulated that Bronner’s couldn’t do an exact reproduction of the chapel’s contents and that wedding ceremonies wouldn’t be permitted.
“We were grateful for those conditions because to reproduce what was in the chapel in Oberndorf would have been very costly,” Bronner said. “And wedding ceremonies would interfere with visitors to the chapel.”
The chapel is solely for visitation and meditation, not for public events, Bronner noted. Also, replicas of the Silent Night Chapel are sold in the Christmas store but not in the chapel.
Bronner estimated the cost to build the Silent Night Chapel in 1992 at roughly $250,000. William Bronner and Son, Wally Bronner’s cousin, were contractors for the unique project.
“This was not a commercial venture and the chapel was erected for the purpose of presenting visitors with the opportunity to reflect on the true reason of what Christmas is,” Wayne Bronner said.
A Labor of Love
The chapel was a labor of love from Wally Bronner in thanksgiving to God, but much of the memorial’s inside accouterments are a testament to the love many had for the man who made sharing the joy of Christmas his life’s mission.Staffer Doris Reda, since retired, crocheted a filet altar cloth closely replicating that of the Austrian chapel. Staff artist Connie Larsen, also now retired, carved an angel design and inscription in the wood door that reads, “Friede den Menschen auf Erden die einer guten Willen sind.” Translation: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth.”
Two original stained glass windows designed by Larsen and crafted by Kathy Chesney of Kelley Glass in nearby Saginaw, Michigan, were presented to the Bronner family by staff in 1995.
Bronner friend Ted Smithey donated a Swiss crucifix carved in 1818—the same year Silent Night was first performed by Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr at midnight mass at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf.
The message of Christ’s birth as told in Luke 2:1–19 is displayed in 30 different languages inside the chapel, and a large Advent wreath, star, and crown hang aloft from the towering wood-beamed ceiling.
Admission to the chapel is free. It shares the same hours as the Christmas store across the parking lot, which vary throughout the year. Bronner’s is open every day except New Year’s Day, Good Friday from noon to 3 p.m., Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Public Reaction
A guestbook inside the chapel allows visitors to record their impressions upon seeing the replica of Austria’s St. Nicholas Chapel.“Thank you! What a blessing! Awesome!” a couple from Ohio wrote.
“The music makes me calm and more joyful,” a guest from Ontario wrote.
“One of our favorite spots in Frankenmuth,” wrote an Ohio family who, like many guests, visits the Silent Night Chapel whenever they are in the area.
“It’s hard to estimate the number of visitors since COVID, but I’d estimate it at 100,000 annually,” Bronner’s communications assistant, Lori Lipka, shared about the chapel’s visitors.
Considering the reverent emotions the Silent Night Chapel evokes in visitors, it’s ironic to know what many thought would populate that spot before the chapel was built.
“There was a lot of interest from others to build a gas station or a convenience store there,” Wayne Bronner said of the chapel’s idyllic site. “It would have been an ideal location, but Wally always said that we were going to preserve that spot and build something memorable there.”
Wally Bronner can sleep in heavenly peace knowing that his memorial, commemorating the debut of the world’s most beloved Christmas carol, continues to inspire visitors worldwide.
