20 Most Famous Chapels on College Campuses

St. Paul’s Chapel is located on the Columbia University campus.  Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in New York.  It was established by a charter from the King of England in 1754. 

The chapel was a gift from sisters Olivia and Caroline Stokes.  Completed in 1907, St. Paul’s Chapel is a masterpiece of neo-Gothic architecture. The renowned firm of Howells & Stokes designed the chapel.  The firm was chosen because the nephew of the two sisters was architect I.N. Phelps Stokes.

The building is clad in red brick and limestone to match the style of other buildings on campus. What sets this building apart are the yellow and white marble highlights. The green ceramic tiled roof contains 16 arched windows and is topped with a lantern.

The interior is a mix of impressive stone and woodwork.  There are grand archways and bronze chandeliers.  One of the unique features of the ceiling is the pink clay tiles arranged in a herringbone pattern.  There are 16 stained-glass windows throughout the church designed to complement the color of the tiles.  The sanctuary houses an organ that is considered one of the finest church organs in New York City.

St. Paul’s Chapel is affiliated with the Episcopal Church but is open to individuals of all faiths and beliefs. It serves as a place of worship for the Columbia University community. The chapel welcomes students, faculty, staff, visitors, and members of the local community. The chapel’s commitment to inclusivity reflects Columbia’s diverse and welcoming environment.

Despite its ability to seat 350 individuals, St. Paul’s Chapel hosts hundreds of religious services, campus events, lectures, and musical performances throughout the year.  The chapel’s beauty and exceptional acoustics make it a preferred location for weddings and cultural events.

St. Paul’s Chapel is home to several annual events that hold special significance for the Columbia University community. One such event is the Blessing of the Quads, which takes place at the beginning of each academic year. During this ceremony, the chapel clergy blesses the four quads on campus, fostering a sense of unity and reflection among students and faculty.

Princeton University Chapel is located on the picturesque campus of Princeton University. It stands as an enduring symbol of faith, education, and architectural grandeur. Its rich history, traditions, and cultural significance make it a revered institution within the Princeton community.

Dedicated in 1928, Princeton University Chapel boasts stunning Gothic Revival architecture. It was designed by the renowned architect Ralph Adams Cram. The chapel’s exterior features elegant spires, intricate stone carvings, and a breathtaking rose window that adorns the entrance.

Inside, the chapel showcases magnificent stained-glass windows, vaulted ceilings, and a majestic organ. The chapel captures the essence of a medieval cathedral.

The interior of Princeton Chapel could be a museum.  It contains memorials to former faculty, students, founders, and university benefactors.  Stained-glass windows, pews, hymnals, communion cups, and even the walls are engraved memorials.  The windows in the sanctuary are dedicated not only to important members of the university but also to important figures in American history.  John Witherspoon was the sixth president of the university and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  He is pictured in the Great South Window.  The figure of James Madison is depicted in the Window of the Law, near the chapel entrance.

The pews are made from the wood of Civil War gun carriages.  The pulpit is from France and dates back to the mid-16th century. The wood for the pews where the choir and clergy sit came from Sherwood Forest in England. It took 100 people over a year to carve them.  There are numerous statues representing musicians, scholars, and clergy from the church’s history.

Princeton University Chapel is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.  It also provides services for all other faiths practiced by the Princeton student body.

This 2,000-seat venue is one of the largest collegiate churches in America.  The elegant beauty and charm of the chapel make it a popular wedding venue.  It is the home of solemn events like memorial services for alumni, faculty, and friends of the university.  A Service of Remembrance is held each year for members of the campus community and alumni who lost their lives during the year. The annual Christmas Eve service is a cherished event that draws students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community together to celebrate the holiday season.

Wake Forest University – Wait Chapel was completed in 1956 and named in honor of Martha and Henry E. Wait. It is the first structure built on the Reynolda campus of Wake Forest University. Wait Chapel is a fine example of mid-century modern architecture.

Designed by architect Thomas S. Lambeth, the chapel features a striking A-frame structure that can seat over 2,200 people. The chapel’s elegant simplicity and contemporary design offer a welcoming and tranquil space for worship and reflection.

The chapel has a striking exterior boasting a 213-foot spire and a grand entryway containing classic white columns. It has a large organ and a 48-bell carillon. The interior has large arching windows that allow natural light to flow into the sanctuary. The white walls and ceilings with wooden seats and accents give the room a large and bright feeling.

Wait Chapel is affiliated with the Baptist tradition but embraces its Moravian roots. The beloved Lovefeast is one such tradition. The first Wake Forest Lovefeast dates back to December of 1965. Two hundred students gathered to celebrate the traditional meal consisting of a sweetened bun and creamed coffee. It is now the largest Moravian-style lovefeast in North America. The service features music from the Wake Forest Concert Choir. There are songs and scripture readings, and everyone receives a handmade beeswax candle decorated with red paper. The beautiful glow of the candles enhances this timeless experience.

Wait Chapel has hosted significant historical events. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the chapel in 1962. President Jimmy Carter made a major National Security address here in 1978. Wait Chapel has hosted two presidential debates. The first was between George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. The second was between candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore. A private memorial service was held for Dr. Maya Angelou in June 2014. The ceremony was attended by Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey.

One of the first same-sex commitment ceremonies in the U.S. was held in the chapel in the late 1990s. It created quite a bit of controversy, which was covered in the documentary “A Union in Wait.”

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit was dedicated in 2009 and serves as the spiritual center of Sacred Heart University. Designed by renowned architect Simeon Bruner, the chapel features a modern and innovative design. An 80-foot-tall bell tower is a striking feature near the church entrance. Its massive bells toll every hour to call university members to prayer.

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit has a unique structure. It is designed to evoke the image of the nomadic tents of the ancient Israelites. The white interior is meant to give the impression of being inside a tent. The interior and exterior designs are fused to bring the parishioner the feeling of journeying closer to God.

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition.  The colorful mosaics that line the sanctuary are meant to create spaces of prayer and to help members of the congregation feel like they are strongly connected to their Catholic roots.

Despite its small seating capacity, the church is vital to religious and community engagement on campus.  It hosts church services, concerts, and lectures.  It is a popular venue for weddings and baptisms.  Although it may not have centuries-old traditions like some of the older churches that have been featured, it is an integral part of the Sacred Heart University community.

The Heinz Memorial was a gift to the University of Pittsburgh from Henry John Heinz, founder of the H.J. Heinz Company. He wanted to honor his mother with a building dedicated to her at the university.

Upon his death, Heinz’s three children donated the funds to build a chapel in honor of their father and grandmother. They chose to have the chapel built to honor their grandmother’s values of education and religion

The chapel’s design reflects multiple architectural styles, including French and English Gothic Revival. This striking structure features intricate woodwork, a majestic pipe organ, and a soaring 73-foot vaulted ceiling.

One of the centerpieces of the chapel is the 23 beautiful stained-glass windows. Charles J. Connick designed them to depict 391 sacred and secular figures. The figures represent religion, history, medicine, science, and the arts. The 73-foot transept windows behind the altar are some of the tallest in the world. There are two 800-pound doors at the entrance of the church. All the woodwork in the church is solid oak.

This 1,000-seat chapel hosts between 170 and 190 weddings. Despite its size, the chapel holds over 1,500 events yearly that over 100,000 people attend. Besides its regular schedule of church services, the chapel hosts many concerts throughout the year. The Heinz Chapel Choir is a group of student singers who regularly perform here for worship services and public concerts. Every Sunday evening, there is a worship service that is entirely sung by the chapel choir. Other services are held mainly for those of the Catholic and Lutheran faiths. Daily tours are provided throughout the year.

The Heinz Memorial Chapel stands as a monument to the values of the Heinz family and that of the educational and spiritual goals of the University of Pittsburgh.

Rockefeller Chapel is an impressive example of neo-Gothic architecture designed by Bertram Goodhue. The 207-foot tower soars above the church and stands out among the other buildings on the University of Chicago campus.

Dedicated in 1928, Rockefeller Chapel was made possible through the generous donation of John D. Rockefeller Jr. It houses the second-largest carillon in the world. The only one larger is located at Riverside Church in New York City. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. also donated it. The chapel’s exterior is punctuated with intricate stone carvings, beautiful stained-glass windows, and numerous spires.

The interior is equally impressive with its majestic, vaulted ceiling. The intricate woodwork found throughout the chapel is the work of master woodcarver Alois Lang. The sanctuary contains 70 sculptures integrated into the walls. It also houses a massive Skinner organ.

The chapel is used for ecumenical worship services. It hosts university convocations, guest speakers, musical programs, weddings, and memorial services. The chapel even holds the occasional film screening. The entire building is so large that it occupies almost an entire campus block and can seat 1,700 people.

Rockefeller Chapel is home to various enduring traditions and annual events. The weekly Sunday morning worship service features the renowned Rockefeller Chapel Choir. There are daily carillon recitals during the school year. They occur at noon and 5 pm every weekday. Rockefeller Chapel has a yearly vocal artist-in-residence program. Famed vocal soloists spend one year at the chapel performing regular concerts.

The chapel also hosts weddings, providing couples a beautiful venue for their special day. Additionally, it serves as the site for the university’s convocation and graduation ceremonies.

Probably the most unusual and smallest of collegiate chapels is the MIT Chapel.  This 150-seat cylindrical structure was designed by the renowned architect Eero Saarinen.  The chapel was opened in 1955 and is 50 feet in diameter and 30 feet tall.  It has no windows and is surrounded by a moat. There is a tall aluminum spire and bell tower on the roof.

Despite its small size and relatively minimal design elements, the interior is absolutely striking.  The interior walls look like waves of bricks that seem to be almost in motion. There is an opaque skylight above the altar with a cascading metal sculpture that hangs from the ceiling. 

The metal strands reflect the sunlight, giving the altar the appearance that it is being teleported toward heaven.  The walls of the sanctuary contain small slits that allow natural light to filter through.  The light is reflected from the moat outside, giving a rippling effect to the interior walls.

The chapel has a custom-designed organ built by Walter Holtkamp. In 1970, musician and MIT alumni Ned Lagin performed an organ work he wrote specifically for the chapel.  The concert attendees included Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead. Lagin was invited to be a member of the Grateful Dead and toured with them for the next 5 years.

The MIT Chapel does not belong to any religious denomination.  The Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life must approve groups who want to use the chapel for religious services.  The chapel is also used for the initiation ceremonies of sororities and fraternities. Members of the MIT community may use the chapel for weddings, baptisms, bar/bat mitzvahs, and memorial services.  The MIT Chapel is open for public tours for two hours each day as long as no events are taking place during scheduled tour times.

Stauffer Chapel is another architecturally unique chapel.  Situated on one of the higher points on the Pepperdine campus, it gives spectacular views of the campus, surrounding hills, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Dedicated in 1973, Stauffer Chapel, also called the “Chapel on the Hill,” was named in honor of the Stauffer family, longtime supporters of Pepperdine University.

The chapel’s architectural design reflects the California Mission style. It features a white stucco exterior and is designed in the shape of one long arch.  The center of the roof contains a large spire.

The most iconic feature of the chapel is the large stained-glass windows.  The front and back chapel walls are almost entirely made of stand glass that reaches from the ground to the roof line.  The windows, made by the Blenko Glass Company, are made up of 125 different colors.  Complimenting the front and back walls are six arching stained-glass windows lining the sanctuary.  There are 3 of these magnificent windows on each side, totaling 3,000 square feet of stained glass.  When the chapel was first built, it contained the largest collection of stained glass in the western United States.  The beautiful stained-glass wall behind the altar faces the Pacific Ocean.  It is called the “Tree of Life” and features the image of the Bible at its center.

Stauffer Chapel was once a highly desirable location for weddings.  The architectural grandeur and scenic views outside made it the perfect location for couples to celebrate their special day with a magnificent backdrop for photos.  As of 2019, the university discontinued wedding services for various reasons.

Stauffer Chapel is affiliated with Churches of Christ.  It is a non-denominational church but has deep roots in traditional Christian values. The chapel works with local churches, providing Bible studies for the student body.  All students at Pepperdine are required to take three religion classes to graduate.

The 600-seat Stauffer Chapel religious services, family programs, concerts, lectures, and other cultural events. Each year during the holiday season, the chapel holds special services for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.  Other time-honored events include a 9/11 memorial service, Convocation ceremony, baccalaureate services, graduations, and Christmas tree lighting.

Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart is located at the historic center of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Dahlgren Chapel was built in 1892 and is named in honor of the son of John and Elizabeth Dahlgren, prominent benefactors of Georgetown University.  Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic university in America.  So, it stands to reason that Dahlgren Chapel is affiliated with the Jesuit branch of the Catholic Church.

This neo-Gothic masterpiece was the first building on campus to be funded entirely by an outside philanthropist.  The red brick exterior features a large arching entryway.  It has a bell tower that is topped with a cross. The bell first hung in a church that was a part of the original British colony of Maryland. 

The interior has 4 large stained-glass windows.  There is one each at the front, back, and both sides of the church. Below the impressive wooden altar is the resting place of John and Elizabeth Dahlgren, along with their son, Joseph. There is a soaring vaulted ceiling that is crossed by large, wooden arches.

While Dahlgren Chapel only seats 300 parishioners, there are many services throughout the week to accommodate everyone.  There is a daily mass for students held at noon, Monday through Friday, during the school year.  There is an open mass every Sunday, along with Catholic sacraments and confession held at various times during the week. 

Weddings had been suspended at the chapel for quite some time.  Now, it is a very popular wedding venue for alumni of Georgetown University.  Georgetown’s annual Advent and Christmas Concert, held in Dahlgren Chapel, is a beloved tradition that brings together students, faculty, staff, and alumni to celebrate the holiday season.

If Dahlgren Chapel looks familiar, the exterior is shown in several scenes of the classic horror film, “The Exorcist.”