Exciting changes for the Chapel

In 1964, at the centre of the York St John campus, ground was being cleared in preparation for construction of a new Chapel. Designed by the Architect George Gaze Pace, this Chapel was to be a large, boldly modern, multipurpose building able to service either large crowds or small groups at ease, suitable for choral and orchestral music, drama and dance.

Senior figures at York St John at the time, including Principal Cannon Phillip Lamb, were very clear in their vision for this building, asking ‘that the Chapel should be architecturally worthy of its place at the very centre of the college, and of its function as our rallying point and the symbol of what we stand for. This Chapel is intended to suggest no compromise. It will either be our banner, proudly wrought out in terms of architecturally enclosed space or it will be a white elephant reproaching us with what we have allowed ourselves to lose. Let no-one underestimate its significance’. In 1966, it had been completed and was dedicated to St John the Evangelist by Archbishop Coggan in June of that year, Cannon Lamb described the chapel as ‘a gracious harmony of angles in silver grey brick defined by precise aluminium edges singing Sursum Corda, it is a wonderful thing to have such a banner’.

George Pace called the style used to design the building ‘Brutalist’ – a postmodern form of expression conveying moral seriousness. With its reinforced concrete frame, partly left exposed, clad in pale brick, the chapel has over the years become an iconic part of our York St John campus, and in September 2003 was given Grade II listed building status, and was subsequently re-dedicated a year later in recognition of this.

The days of students being encouraged or expected to turn up every Sunday morning for a traditional service may be long gone, but external groups continue to use the chapel as a space for worship, and the acoustics of the chapel are regarded as some of the finest in the city, making it a favourite location for a wide range of musical presentations.

Although the use of the chapel has evolved over the last 52 years, the building itself largely remains as it was when it first opened in 1966, but that’s about to change. This summer the chapel is closing its doors as it undergoes some major refurbishment work for the first time. A number of changes are being made to widen the usage of the chapel space even further, to reflect the diversity and changing needs of students and staff. The main entrance lobby of the chapel is to be extended to accommodate a new accessible toilet, and will have a new front door that faces Temple Hall. Moveable screens will be constructed to enable the back of the main central space to be sectioned off, which will also be completed with soft furnishing in order to become a flexible space for hospitality, discussion, exhibitions and more. The two side chapels either side of the main altar will be sectioned off with glass panelling to form two bookable neutral spaces. The current vestry will become a room for small groups to use, and will have a new window that faces into the peace garden, while the rear of the current vestry will also be curtained off and will have an ablution facility installed.

The much changed Chapel, which going forwards will become ‘The Chaplaincy Centre’ will then re-open in September this year, and will be more able than ever to accommodate a wide variety of creative activities including worship, performance, hospitality and art. Looking further ahead, work will begin on campus next year for a new purpose built ‘Creative Centre’ for Arts and Music, which will include a large auditorium. Until this exciting new building is completed the Chaplaincy Centre will continue to be the main performance and practice centre for the Music department.

If you’d like to read any further information on the Chapel refurbishment, or see the new designs in more details then please visit our website.

What are your memories of the Chapel? What was the chapel mainly used for during your time as a student at York St John? We’d love to hear from you!