Christ Chapel near completion, silent hours to be finalized soon

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Christ Chapel near completion, silent hours to be finalized soon
Interior of Christ Chapel. | Courtesy Ethan Greb

The days of admiring Christ Chapel from the outside have come to an end with the installment of daily sacred silent hours.

The current hours are from 6-8 a.m. and 5-7 p.m, but starting Oct. 17th, sacred silence times in the main sanctuary will be extended to 6:30-9 a.m. and 4:30-10:15 p.m. 

Prayer services will also be moved to the day chapel starting on Thursday.

“Students gathering for morning or midday prayer services in the day chapel should access the building through the northeast side door,” said Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé.

The door is off Galloway Drive and faces the Grewcock Student Union. Keycard access will allow students into the day chapel.

Student worship services will be held in the main sanctuary beginning Thursday, Oct. 24.

“Starting next week, formal student services like Catholic mass and Intervarsity’s Soma will be permitted to start using it,” Hillsdale College chaplain Adam Rick said. 

These limited hours are not permanent. Workers need space to complete the remaining projects like the arcade, or the covered passageways with columns on both sides of the chapel. 

“As soon as the arcade is complete, the chapel will be opened to regular hours,”  Péwé said.

Once the finishing touches are done, the music department will also use the sanctuary.

“There will be students practicing and getting lessons on the organs,” Rick said. “The building will still be open, there will just be music to contend with.”

Two world-class organs will eventually occupy the space, but the second one is a few years away from completion. 

Lessons won’t interfere with the spiritual life of the chapel, however, as the time for them will be limited.

“Hours will be set aside each day to ensure there’s always silent time available,” Rick said. 

Lessons and extended silent hours will soon be established as the workers are nearing completion. 

“We are very eager to get students in there,” Rick said. “The long term goal is to have the chapel open as much as possible.”