Phillips Exeter Academy Chapel

Phillips Exeter Academy Chapel is a place of worship and gathering located on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy, a prestigious private boarding school in Exeter, New Hampshire. The chapel is an integral part of the academy's community, hosting various events and services, including Sunday services led by Episcopal Church in the United States of America clergy, as well as interfaith dialogue initiatives with Harvard University's Pluralism Project and the National Council of Churches. The chapel's design and architecture are inspired by the works of Ralph Adams Cram and Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, renowned architects known for their designs of St. John the Divine and Westminster Abbey. The chapel's construction was made possible through the generosity of John Phillips and Exeter, New Hampshire residents, with support from the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire and the Trinity Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

● History

The history of the chapel dates back to the founding of Phillips Exeter Academy in 1781 by John Phillips and John Wingate. The academy's early years were marked by a strong emphasis on Christianity and the importance of worship and spirituality in the lives of its students, as reflected in the writings of Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney. The chapel has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, including a major restoration project in the 1980s led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Institute of Architects. The chapel has hosted numerous notable speakers and events, including visits from Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu, and Dalai Lama, as well as performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. The chapel's history is also closely tied to the American Revolution and the Civil War, with many of its alumni, such as Daniel Webster and Robert E. Lee, playing important roles in shaping the country's history, alongside other notable figures like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

● Architecture

The chapel's architecture is a prime example of Gothic Revival architecture, with its soaring vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, and intricate stone carvings, inspired by the works of Augustus Welby Pugin and Eugene Viollet-le-Duc. The chapel's design is reminiscent of European cathedrals, such as Notre Dame de Paris and Chartres Cathedral, with its use of flying buttresses and ribbed vaults. The chapel's exterior is made of granite and limestone, with a slate roof and a stone tower that houses a carillon, similar to those found at Yale University and Princeton University. The chapel's interior features a pipe organ built by Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, as well as a choir loft and a pulpit designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany. The chapel's architecture has been praised by architectural critics, including Vincent Scully and Robert A.M. Stern, for its beauty and historical significance, alongside other notable buildings like the White House and the United States Capitol.

● Music Program

The chapel's music program is an integral part of its worship and community life, with a strong emphasis on choral music and organ music, inspired by the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The chapel is home to a renowned choir that performs regularly during Sunday services and special events, such as the Lessons and Carols service, which features music by George Frideric Handel and Felix Mendelssohn. The chapel's music program is led by a music director who is responsible for selecting music for services and events, in consultation with the Harvard University Music Department and the Juilliard School. The chapel's pipe organ is a popular instrument for recitals and concerts, featuring performances by organists from around the world, including Cameron Carpenter and Paul Jacobs. The chapel's music program has been praised by music critics, including Anthony Tommasini and Alex Ross, for its excellence and diversity, alongside other notable music programs at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera.

● Stained Glass Windows

The chapel's stained glass windows are a striking feature of its architecture and a testament to the artistry of stained glass artists, including Louis Comfort Tiffany and John La Farge. The windows depict various Biblical scenes and Christian symbols, such as the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, as well as scenes from American history, including the American Revolution and the Civil War. The windows were designed and installed by Tiffany Studios and La Farge Studios, and are considered some of the finest examples of stained glass art in the country, alongside those found at Washington National Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. The windows are a popular subject for art historians and conservationists, who study and preserve them for future generations, in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

● Notable Events

The chapel has hosted numerous notable events over the years, including commencement ceremonies for Phillips Exeter Academy graduates, such as Daniel Webster and Robert E. Lee, as well as memorial services for notable alumni, including John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.. The chapel has also been the site of weddings and funerals for members of the Exeter, New Hampshire community, including the wedding of Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth. The chapel has been visited by numerous heads of state and dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela, who have spoken at the chapel or attended services, alongside other notable figures like Pope John Paul II and Barack Obama. The chapel's events are often covered by media outlets, including The New York Times and The Boston Globe, and are an important part of the academy's community life, in partnership with the National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.

Category:Buildings and structures in New Hampshire