EveryMuseum.com - Weaver Chapel

Overview
Rising high above the campus, the 212-foot tower of Weaver Chapel speaks to campus and community of the centrality of the Gospel of the Cross in the academic endeavor at Wittenberg. The building was dedicated during the week of September 23-27, 1956 to the glory of God and to the service of campus and community. Intended as a chapel/library complex, the building was to symbolize in brick and stone the impact that the spiritual and academic dimensions of life make on all who live and work here. The Chapel represented the dream of the University's president, Clarence Stoughton, who is honored with other past Wittenberg presidents on the wooden door plaques at the north entrance to the chapel. The largest gift was given by Mr. and Mrs. Elgar Weaver of Brookville, Ohio, and in their honor the chapel section of the building is known as "Weaver Chapel".

The building, a rigid frame structure of poured reinforced concrete, was designed by Dr. T. Norman Mansell of Philadelphia. It is 213 feet long and 87 feet wide, excluding the library wing. The nave aisle of the chapel is 110 feet long, the chancel 22 feet deep and the sanctuary 12-1/2 feet high. The measurement from the nave floor to the peak of the roof is just over 50 feet. The tower is 212 feet high, its metal cap 92 feet high and the gold cross atop the tower six feet high.

Approaching the building from any direction, one sees immediately the impressive figures on the face of the tower. Made of Indiana limestone and carved by Regis Milone, each figure measures nine feet and weighs 3800 pounds. On the campus side of the tower, recalling the spiritual heritage of the Church, the figures from top to bottom are St. Paul, St. Augustine and Martin Luther. On the library side the tower, from top bottom, are John Milton, Gottfried Leibnitz and Johann Sebastian Bach, representing the cultural heritage of the Church.

Tower Entrance
On the ceiling of the tower entrance is an elaborate light fixture of wood and brass which depicts the zodiac. In the medieval church, the signs of the zodiac were used as symbols of the dignity of labor; thus tribute is made to those who labored in the construction of the chapel. The zodiac is also a symbol of the year, a reminder of the swift passage of time. Mounted on the narthex ceiling are three wood-carved panels. The work of Thorsten Siegstedt, they symbolize Moses, David and Isaiah and represent the Old Testament background of the Christian faith. The images on the brass plates set in the stair railing in the tower represent various academic disciplines. Etched into the glass doors leading into the chapel are, left right, the Creator Star, a symbol of God, the father; the Fleur-de-lis, a symbol of God, the Son; the Dove, a symbol of God, the Holy Spirit; and three entwined fish, a symbol of the Trinity.

Chapel
Within the chapel, the three symbols are the Cross, the grapevine and the Word. The more than 40 forms of the Cross used throughout the building continually remind the worshipper of what God has done through Jesus Christ. The grapevine reminds one of the words of Jesus in John 15, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit." The Word is symbolized by the scripture verses inscribed on the high altar, the chancel and nave beams and the balcony rail, as well as in the massive chancel arch mural.

Created by Louis Ewald and James Bonelli, painted on unprimed orlon, and mounted on the wall with a wood frame, the mural recreates in a striking way the story of the Bible. Beginning at the lower left side, the story of the Old Testament unfolds. The New Testament story is on the right side. At the point of the arch, uniting both the Old and the New Testaments, is the impressive "sunburst," a symbol of the Trinity.

The large pulpit, mounted on the north wall, is constructed of Indiana limestone with an ancient Christian symbol—the Cross Moline with the monogram IC, IX, NIKA, meaning "Jesus Christ, the Conqueror".
Above the pulpit is the canopy surmounted with the cross and orb which in turn are surrounded with the symbols of the four Evangelists, signifying the worldwide spread of the Gospel through the preaching of the Word. The soffit of the canopy is richly painted work, carrying the XP (Christ) symbol, the grapevine, and the peacock, a symbol of resurrection and eternal life.

The chapel hangings on the East wall of the Nave are "hunger cloths." From front of chapel to back, the cloths are from Ethiopia, Peru, and Haiti. These hangings depict both biblical stories and ongoing social crises of violence and hunger. The pictures are meant to invite us to change our way of living and work for justice in the world.

Services use the current worship practices of the Church. The free-standing altar and the use of cathedral chairs permit a variety of groupings for small services. The original altar, set against the north wall, was imported from Italy where it was carved from sienna and monte verde marble. The mensa is inscribed with five Maltese crosses, symbolic of the five wounds of Jesus. It rests on three pedestals decorated with symbols of the Christian faith. A large hanging cross, added during renovation work carried out during the summer of 1981, completes the chancel furnishings.

Chapel Windows
The chapel windows, the work of Oliver Smith of Bryan Athyn, Pennsylvania, have won critical acclaim. The artist's technique reverses the usual method of construction. In traditional windows, the picture is presented on glass. In the chapel windows, the graphic portion is made of lead, and glass is used only in the background. Three of the windows on the west side of the nave depict scenes from the Old Testament, while the east windows show the life of Christ and the side panels portray the apostles. Note particularly the 24 panels of the window at the north entrance portraying the University's history in pictorial form from Luther's Wittenberg in Germany to the present institution. The clerestory entrance features the symbols of the 12 disciples, with Matthias replacing Judas after his betrayal of Jesus.

Meditation Chapel
The meditation chapel, located in the clerestory, was dedicated to the memory of Mildred L. Veler on June 21, 1981. Designed by Paul Norton of Potente Studios, the verde gioda marble altar and lighted tester above it are the centerpieces of this space. The text of Isaiah 41:10 is handcarved and gilded on this altar.

Chapel Organ
The chapel organ is a three-manual instrument with 52 ranks of pipes designed and executed by the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas. It is a classic type organ including enough stops of the romantic type to make it effective in the performance of all periods of organ literature. The pipes and chests are built at two levels behind the altar. The instrument was revoiced in 1979. The organ needed additional restoration following a long-term leak in the roof which was repaired in 1995. From 1996-2004, extensive restoration was completed by the Peebles-Herzog Organ Co. , totaling $240,000, using Weaver Chapel Gift Funds and major financial support by the Mackey Foundation. The organ is now restored and improved both in tone quality and in the incorporation of state-of-the-art combination action within the console.

Church Life and Activity Room
The chapel is a living structure which continues its witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During the academic year, Weaver Chapel offers twice-weekly chapel services, Sunday morning and evening worship, as well as informal study and fellowship opportunities. The offices of the university pastor and the director of church relations are located in the Chapel. This office wing, which also includes the Siebert Activity Room, was added in 1981. The five windows in this room, made by Mr. Potente and Mr. Tom Agazzi, are centered on the Descending Dove of the Spirit symbol in the fourth window, together with the group of figures seen in the third window, a representation of the community of the faithful united in the Spirit, also highlighted by the red accents. The vine design and green accents symbolize growth and life, and the blue accents represent water as a symbol of refreshment, renewal, and baptism. The paintings of Mr. and Mrs. Elgar Weaver hang on this wall. This room provides a place for Bible studies, fellowship groups, receptions, and informal conversation. These and many other religious activities on campus are planned by the Weaver Chapel Association along with other student ministry groups, in conjunction with the university pastors. If you have any questions, please feel free to address them to chapel staff.