COMPLETION UPDATE:

CHRISTMAS, 2007  

Complete in us, O God, the work you have begun in our lives,
in this ministry, and in this holy place.

Chapel Completion. Those two words have lived side by side for nearly 80 years—as hope, dream, vision; with Committee, Plan, Fund; as something in the future. At last we are ready to bring that long-awaited future into the present and make Chapel Completion a reality.

There are a lot of words to describe the Chapel: beautiful, beloved, dear, open, holy; but never yet complete. It is a place infused with daily prayer, where generations have encountered God. Worship has always been the engine that drives this ministry, and the Chapel is where it happens, a blessed, sacred space. Still, again and again over the decades, the possibilities for this ministry have bumped up against the limitations of space. We need more room, completed space to serve the generations to come and to give permanence to our witness in this place.

With your help, and the help of everyone who has been touched by this ministry, we'll complete the Chapel. We know that completion is not an end in itself, but a new beginning for a ministry that is always building, never complete, but with God's grace, ever growing and ever new.

Faithfully yours,

Timothy J. Hallett
Rector and Chaplain

Why Now?

Construction on the Chapel of St. John the Divine was put on hold in 1927, and a "temporary" wood-frame structure was attached, in anticipation of additional funding to complete construction. The market crash of 1929 crippled fundraising efforts, however, and the Chapel has remained incomplete for 75 years. Today, we embark on a $825,000 capital campaign to finish what our forebears began—to permanently complete the Chapel. As we do this, we renew our commitment to this place and we allow God to renew us for a future of expanded ministry here in Champaign.

Today, the temporary structure is pulling away from the building, causing interior damage as juncture leaks let in the elements. Moreover, footings are sinking, ceiling plaster is rotting, and there is extensive termite damage. Our ministry is also challenged. Insufficient seating inhibits growth at the Chapel; too often, we are too full. Our lavatories are not now fully accessible, and our entrances do not have direct access from the parking lot. The lack of air conditioning often makes the Chapel uncomfortable from June through September. Finally, vesting rooms and sacristies are chronically overcrowded and inefficient. Our campaign will change all of this.

The Plan

Through the campaign, the Chapel of St. John the Divine will be renewed and expanded to better serve our current and future needs.

Our capital campaign will enable us to to replace the aging wood-frame section with a permanent, stone-faced structure—providing more seating, unlimited access from the parking lot, complete access to new lavatories, and new sacristies and vesting areas.

The large cross of steel and brass, designed and built by Mary Hallett, will be installed in the new west end behind the altar. The existing Marian shrine and altar, columbarium, icons, baptismal font, and choir stalls will remain in their current locations.

The Chapel will be more...

• Spacious: Seating will be increased by 30%, adding 50 more seats to the nave
• Accessible: People with physical disabilities will have unlimited access to our entire facility
• Welcoming: Our parking lot will be made physically accessible
• Comfortable: The entire facility will be air-conditioned
• Efficient: The redesigned sacristy and robing areas will allow more storage and a better use of space
• Congruent: The new structure will mesh with the old architecturally
• Expandable: The new structure will be designed to accommodate a future link with Canterbury House

The Cost

The entire project will cost $2.5 million to complete. Contributions will be welcome for some time to come!