7 minute read
Campus gem
Chapel reaches diamond milestone
With a beauty that shines as bright as the colors reflected in its stained-glass windows, the ‘little brick Chapel on the Hill’ has been the beating heart of campus for six decades.
Centuries of history
A gift from Callaway Foundation, Inc., many of the materials used in the construction of the building came from the old sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of LaGrange that dated to 1858, including two large stained-glass rose windows that were made in Belgium. The bricks, original air-conditioning system and slate roof were also part of the Methodist church.
Depicted on the panel in the window above the main entrance is the Biblical parable of “The Sower,” a story told by Jesus in the Gospels that illustrates how people respond in various ways to God’s message.
Just above the altar, there is a window panel that includes a torch of learning and the Bible, which appropriately represents the college’s commitment to being an institution of knowledge and religion.
The 1965 dedication of the Chapel fulfilled the longtime dream of former president and Methodist minister Dr. Waights G. Henry Jr., who called the sanctuary “a symbol of the place of religion in the life of our institution.”
A guiding light
Through the decades, the welcoming beacon on the Hill has served as a spiritual anchor for alumni whose faith was strengthened during their undergraduate years.
Inspired to enter ministry was the Rev. Blair Tolbert ’06, a former LC Chaplain who said the Chapel was a central feature of her time as a student. She currently works as the associate minister at Marietta (Georgia) First United Methodist Church.
“It provided space for me to preach some of my first sermons as I discerned my call to ministry and helped prepare me for seminary,” she says. “From leading worship to organizing lectures, the Chapel continued to be a place of transformation for me and students.”
The Chapel also helped direct the path of the Rev. Garrett Wallace ’18, who currently serves as the associate pastor at Dunwoody United Methodist Church.
“It has had a great impact on my personal and professional life,” he says. “I planned and led my first worship service there.”
Bonnie Douglas ’06, worship and community minister at Southwest Christian Church in Newnan, Georgia, described the Chapel as her sanctuary.
“It was a refuge where I could grow in my purpose and my faith,” she says.
At that time, Douglas recalled God calling her to lead the Chapel worship band.
“Serving in the Chapel worship band developed leadership skills in me,” she says. “When people have asked me about the impact of my involvement there, I would always say, ‘Those years allowed me to find my voice!’ God directed me into my vocation.”
A place of solace
The Rev. Lindsey Solomon ’05 says the Chapel brought the campus community together after the dark events of Sept. 11, 2001.
“I remember hearing the news in drama class and then watching the live coverage on the community televisions in Turner dorm,” she says. “But when it came to the healing that we all needed to experience after that tragedy, I remember attending the worship service in the Chapel, grateful that we had a safe place to go and worship in the midst of the chaos and tragedy.”
During India Gleason’s ’21 college journey, she says she had to navigate through the COVID outbreak and Chapel worship experiences transitioning to the Spiritual Life Center in Henry Hall.
“The irregular use of the Chapel did not mean students lacked a meaningful connection to the beautiful and quaint building,” she says. “In fact, it was quite the opposite. When we did have a service in the Chapel, it was almost implied that it was of such importance that it needed to be held in that sacred space.”
Challenging the mind, inspiring the soul
Whether seeking prayer or an outlet to decompress from the stress of academic life, students have found community among their peers in the sanctuary, where the college’s Spiritual Life program performs weekly services.
The Rev. Ashley Jenkins ’08 has served as Chaplain and Spiritual Life Director since July 2023. In addition to her and the Rev. Tolbert, the role was held by the Rev. Adam Roberts and the Rev. Quincy Brown, who was part of helping bring a spiritual revival to campus during the late ’90s and early ’00s. A plaque dedicated to Brown’s 17 years of service can be found in the Chapel.
Currently, Chapel worship occurs on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. During the school year, faculty, staff, students and church leaders take the pulpit to share the message.
Just before the Super Bowl kickoff this past February, Bishop Robin Dease of the Georgia Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church provided an uplifting message for the campus and community members in attendance.
Senior Baylor Montoya says he is grateful for a place where students can gather and share their faith among the campus community.
“Being able to preach at Chapel this semester was a wonderful opportunity that LaGrange College afforded me,” he says. “I also enjoy having the ability to freely worship with my classmates, teammates and peers.”
In addition to Sunday worship, Spiritual Life also holds weekly Bible studies and Soul Food on Tuesdays. Most recently, a group traveled to Savannah, Georgia, for a service-learning trip to help those affected by the hurricanes in 2024.
Ring the bells!
Since hosting its first wedding in the summer of 1965, the Chapel has been an ideal spot for alumni to say, ‘I do.’
Katie Baughman ’06, who met her husband Nate ’05 on freshman move-in day, says there was no other place they wanted to get married.
“To me, the Chapel always felt both beautiful and incredibly peaceful,” she says. “I remember that on our wedding day (which will be 20 years ago this June), all my LC best friends were lined up along the railing of the balcony in order to leave space for other wedding guests who wouldn't have braved the tiny spiral staircase.”
Geni Boswell ’75, M’80 and her husband will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
“As we were planning our wedding, the beautiful chapel had always been my choice to have our service,” she says. “On a very hot August 16, 1975, we celebrated with our family and friends.”
In addition to weddings, the Chapel also hosts vow renewals.
“Barbara ’88 and I got married in the Chapel in May 1989, about one year after graduation,” says Dr. Steven Harris ’88. “In October 2017 during Homecoming, we renewed our vows in the Chapel with our daughter Stephanie ’15, M’16 present.”
Looking to the future
Over its six decades in operation, the Chapel has received some updates, including a new roof that was installed in 2023. It still needs some minor work done to keep it in tip-top shape, including plaster repairs on interior walls, safety glass for the windows and exterior window painting.
Even with its storied past, the building continues to welcome new traditions.
Since 2021, graduating seniors celebrate the beginning of their new career or graduate school journey with the ringing of the Chapel Bell. With cheers and fanfare, the Sound of Success has become a cherished event that brings together families, friends, faculty and staff.
As the Chapel itself marks a significant milestone, it seems fitting that it continues to help students celebrate their own.
