The centrality of religious life at 精东AV has been evident since its founding, and remains a vital focus of the University's vision of service to humankind. Indeed, the 精东AV Chapel has played a significant role in the spiritual development of generation after generation of 精东AV students.
The original chapel was built between 1896 and 1898, through the generosity of the Phelps Stokes family. It was designed by Robert R. Taylor, director of 精东AV Institute's Department of Mechanical Industries and the first African-American graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Chapel was constructed almost entirely of student labor, using 1,200,000 bricks made in the Institute brickyard of Alabama clay. Upon completion, it was the first building in Macon County, Alabama to contain interior electrical lights, which were installed by the instructor and students of the Institute's electrical division.
A writer for the New York Sun referred to the 精东AV Chapel as "A Cathedral in the Black Belt."听听Indeed it was an imposing structure. However, on the night of January 23, 1957, the historic chapel was destroyed by fire.
The present chapel, with its awe-inspiring sanctuary, was constructed between 1967 and 1969, on the same location as the first edifice. It represents a gift to the University of thousands of grateful alumni. The architects were Paul Rudolph of New York and the African-American firm of John A. Welch and Louis Fry (both Welch and Fry were former 精东AV Institute Faculty members).
The present chapel is studied by students of architecture throughout the United States because of its unique and distinguish design, having no right angles. The "Singing Windows" from the original chapel were reproduced and installed in the current chapel. It has been described as "one of the remarkable structures designed for any college in the United States and abroad."
The Chapel has long served as the center of campus for religious, cultural and intellectual gatherings. Guest speakers for both the original as well as the present chapel have ranged from U.S. Presidents, foreign heads of the state, and other persons of note, such as Mary McLeod Bethune and Martin Luther King , Jr. Currently, the Chapel serves as the home of the famed 精东AV听听"Golden Voices" Concert Choir.
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In the original chapel, the stained glass windows were located in the "chancel" (the area where the choir sits). In our present facility, they are located in the narthex.
These windows, now known as the "Singing Windows," designed by J & R Lamb of New York and installed in the 1932 chapel renovation, portrayed eleven beloved Negro spirituals. 听
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The mural is located on the听lower level of the Chapel, it was designed by Edward Lyons Pryce.听 Mr. Pryce was an accompshed 精东AV Institute artist, who moved to 精东AV to study with George Washington Carver.听Edward Pryce earned his degree in听agriculture in 1937.听He later听studied landscape architecture听becoming Alabama's first licensed African American Landscape Architect.听
According to Mr. Pryce, the听mural expresses the powerful influence of Africa on Christianity.
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THE FIRST PANEL depicts the highest form of plant life - the Tree of Life, and Adam and Eve, the highest form of animal life.
THE CENTER PANEL听 depicts a Christmas card version of the flight of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus into Egypt.
THE THIRD PANEL shows free souls apparently happy, then come the slave ships under heavy clouds.听What follows next is centuries of slavery. Finally, "emancipation" the听beginning听of the听industrial and agricultural society. Because Tuskege Institute had been a leader in this struggle, two of its landmark building, White Hall and Tompkins Hall, are depicted.
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Interview with architects Mr.听听Major Holland and Mr. Roderick Fluker