Christ Chapel

Coordinates: 44°19′20″N 93°58′15″W / 44.32222°N 93.97083°W / 44.32222; -93.97083

Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College

Christ Chapel is a church located in the center of Gustavus Adolphus College. Constructed from March 2, 1959 to fall 1961, the chapel was dedicated on January 7, 1962. Construction of the chapel was made possible by gifts from the congregations of the Lutheran Augustana Synod, a predecessor body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is affiliated with the college. Ecumenical services are held each weekday and on Sundays during the academic year.

The chapel and surrounding grounds are adorned by the sculptures of Paul T. Granlund, the former artist-in-residence at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Chapel organ

The organ in Christ Chapel was originally built by Hillgreen-Lane at the time the Chapel was built. It has been significantly altered in the last 30 years. These renovations, carried out by David Engen and more recently by the Hendrickson Organ Company of St. Peter, include a new console with solid state combination and relay, moving several ranks of pipes from an antiphonal position in the basement into the main organ above the balcony, restructuring the Swell mixture, and extensive repairs following the tornado of 1998. It currently contains 55 speaking ranks of pipes, played from a four-manual console, and has a preparation on the new Great chest for a mounted Kornet V stop.^[1]

The Chapel also houses a small portative organ of three stops on one manual which is used for accompanying and especially for continuo playing in Baroque compositions.

Attendance

Christ Chapel

Although attendance by the campus community is voluntary, it is encouraged by the chapel break time set aside each weekday morning. College policy dictates that classes and meetings take a 30 minute break from 10:00 a.m. until 10:20 a.m. to provide an opportunity to attend chapel.

Capacity

There is seating for 1,500 people in the chapel, with 1,200 on the main floor and an additional 300 in the balcony. It is the largest seating area on campus

Events

Christmas in Christ Chapel is held every year in the chapel, which also hosts college band, orchestra, and choir concerts throughout the year.

History

On June 9, 1967 John Denver was married to his first wife, Annie Martell, at Christ Chapel.^{[citation needed]}

On March 29, 1998, the spire, which towers above the chapel, was toppled by a tornado that left most of St. Peter, Minnesota in ruins. On March 17, 2008, the cross that was atop the spire was hung from the ceiling in Christ Chapel during a service marking the 10-year anniversary of the tornado.

References

1. ^ https://gustavus.edu/chaplain/christchapel.php

External links

• Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College