Beck Chapel was developed on the Indiana University campus to provide students with a place for spiritual outlet, as well as a way to unite the student body while still respecting the individuality of each religion. The chapel was not built for one specific religion, rather it is open to anyone of any religious or spiritual practice to pray or meditate. The building itself combines religious symbolism and architecture from a variety of traditions. Today the building is still a place of service for all religions. Additionally, weddings, funerals, and other religious ceremonies are also held there.

Beck Chapel was largely envisioned and funded by IU Alumni Frank (Comparative Literature, A.B. 1894, A.M. 1895) and Daisy Beck (née Woodward) (English, A.B 1899). After many years traveling and working, the couple returned to Bloomington in 1934 to develop a religious program at IU. The goal of this program was to combat prejudice with understanding. Around the same time, Herman B Wells formed a University Committee on Religion, where Frank served as the Executive Secretary. With World War II occurring simultaneously, the group recognized that "the pressing need of national unity today makes it imperative that religion become a unifying force rather than a divisive one". Frank and Daisy Beck endowed the University with the funds to construct the chapel in 1941; however, due to wartime shortages, resources did not allow for the construction of the chapel until 1954 when the ground was dedicated. Beck Chapel was completed in 1956 and the official dedication ceremony occurred after the 1957 commencement.