Summerall Chapel, chapel at The Citadel in Charleston, US
Summerall Chapel is a military college chapel with a cross-shaped floor plan decorated with thirty stained glass windows. These windows illustrate scenes from the life of Jesus in 13th-century Gothic style.
Designed by C.R. MacDonald, construction began on September 7, 1936, and the chapel was dedicated on Palm Sunday, April 10, 1938, though services were first held there on September 19, 1937. It was named in honor of Citadel president Gen. Charles Pelot Summerall. A $1 million repair program was developed for the chapel in 1985.
The chapel serves as a gathering place for multiple faith communities on campus, where cadets and visitors come together for worship and reflection. Its design reflects an openness to different religious traditions.
The chapel sits on the Avenue of Remembrance between Daniel Library and Mark Clark Hall on the college grounds. Visitors should expect formal dress codes and check ahead if planning to attend services.
The stained glass windows were crafted by Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studios following designs by H.G. Wilbert and feature detailed biblical stories. These windows represent skilled glassmaking and design work from an era when such craftsmanship was still commonly practiced.
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