Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Naval Academy Chapel

In the late 1960s my husband was assigned duty as Communications Officer for the Naval Academy. It was two years of the best living experience our family ever had.

I was privileged to be a part of the Garden Club who arranged flowers for Sunday services at the chapel. At Christmas time my husband and I attended a performance of "The Messiah" by the Academy Choir and nearby Hunter College.

Years later, on a visit back to Annapolis, Maryland, I took this picture of the magnificent Chapel.

another view

I hope you will find the following chapel facts of interest to you.
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The cornerstone was laid in 1904 by Admiral George Dewey.

The Chapel was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

The dome is copper, which had been plastered over for decades because of deterioration. During restoration in 2009 that magnificent dome was uncovered and restored.
photo from wikipedia

Until 1972 chapel attendance was compulsory for the Midshipmen.

Beneath the chapel lies the crypt of John Paul Jones inside a sarcophagus made of 19 tons of Grand Pyreness marble. 
photo from internet 
I hope if you are ever in the area, you will take the time to visit one of our most beautiful chapels. 

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Verse I from The Navy Hymn

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
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I am linking with Inspired Sunday

                                                                                             

17 comments:

  1. Hello, what a beautiful chapel. Lovely post and images. Have a happy Sunday!

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  2. That is a lovely place. When I taught 4th grade we would take a field trip to Annapolis, the capital of our state, for a walking tour. It included the Naval Academy and a visit to John Paul Jones. The students were thrilled to walk down under there.

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  3. the dome as you called it is just amazing piece ... so awesome. ( :

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  4. It is a beautiful chapel. I was able to visit there in 1965 just after Christmas. You were privileged. We were assigned TDY to Ft. Belvoir 5 years later. Lovely part of our country! Have a grand day!

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  5. Absolutely wonderful InSPIREd Sunday post, Mom! Love the photos you were able to get of the chapel when you went back to visit. I sure have fond memories of that tour of duty.

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  6. It's a beautiful chapel Latane and what a wonderful chapter in your life !

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  7. what a beautiful chapel. Thank you for sharing the information about it, I found it quite interesting.

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  8. WOW, what architecture! Tom The Backroads Traveller

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  9. Very very nice. What a wonderful experience that must have been. Love the copper dome restoration. Very nice posting.

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  10. This is quite an impressive church. Thanks for sharing the information, too.

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  11. Amazing is the word and it is huge for a chapel from the look of things. That is also a very impressive crypt

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  12. What a lovely church, great shots :)

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  13. A lovely church and interesting facts.

    Diana

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  14. I am pretty sure that you can not read me but thought I would try. Magnificent chapel. I really would love to see it someday!
    Susannah

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  15. It was interesting to read this history, Latane, as my husband, Pat (Grenville on our blog) is also a Navy veteran.

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