The following series of drawings depicts the evolution of structures that comprise the buildings of the Chapel of the Cross in 2006.
1848
The
Chapel was completed in 1848 based upon a design by Thomas Ustick Walter of
Philadelphia. The original structure featured a large rectangular nave with a
simple altar table placed against the south wall. Two wood stoves were located
along the center of the side walls. A gallery at the rear of the nave
accommodated slaves accompanying families for worship. No basement was
excavated under the original structure. A small office and vesting room was
attached to the outside of the south wall behind the altar. Pictures of the
original chapel are on display in the parlor.
1890
The
Rev Edward M. Gushee of Cambridge Massachusetts was rector from Nov 1, 1890 to
March 1, 1891. The Gothic Revival style of architecture was popular, and he
undertook revisions to modernize the original colonial design. He had the
interior walls painted dark red, rearranged the pews to create a center aisle
for processions, relocated the wood stoves to the rear of the chapel, and cut
an arch through the south wall to create a sanctuary for the altar. A new
office and vesting room with a fireplace was built beside the southwest corner.
Judging from appearance, the doors and frames in the new room were salvaged
from the former vesting room. Pictures of the chapel during this era are on
display in the parlor. Electric lights installed in 1899 replaced the original
oil lamps. In 1903 a small basement was excavated and a steam furnace installed
to replace the wood stoves. A telephone was installed in 1909. The furnace flue
proved to be inadequate and was replaced with a large chimney on the outside of
the east wall in 1912. It was subsequently removed in the 1950 chapel
renovation.
1916
In 191l, the Rev. Homer Starr was called as Rector. He immediately began promoting plans for construction of a Parish Hall. Hobart Upjohn of New York furnished plans in 1913 for an addition to be named for Dr. Kemp Battle and Pattie Battle who “had been members for 69 years.” The one-story structure completed in 1916 included a classroom that linked the southeast corner of the chapel with a fellowship hall. The hall included a kitchen, bathroom, and meeting room with fireplace on the east end. The chimney between the classroom and fellowship hall provided a vent for the classroom woodstove and the kitchen woodstove. A small basement beneath the fellowship hall provided space for a furnace that vented through the fireplace chimney. A picture in the parlor of the chapel overgrown with ivy shows the 1912 chapel furnace flue on the east wall, and the 1916 classroom and parish hall.
1925
In 1920 the North Carolina Episcopal Convention passed a resolution endorsing plans for enlargement of the Chapel of the Cross to better serve the needs of the University community. In 1921, William Erwin pledged $50,000 for construction of a new church provided the congregation raise $25,000 to improve and enlarge the parish hall. The chapel was to be “left intact and used for a Sunday school auditorium, for meetings of the congregation, for Lenten Services, and for other purposes not requiring a very large seating space.” The cornerstone for the new church (shown in green) was laid in 1924 and the diocesan convention was held in the new building in May, 1925. A cloister connecting the new church and old chapel was given by William Meade Prince in memory of his grandfather, W. H. Meade who served as rector from 1898 to 1908. The parish hall was expanded (shown in yellow) by adding a kitchen and vesting room on the east with a basement for a steam furnace to heat the greatly expanded facility. An addition on the west without a basement (shown in yellow) included space for a parlor with fireplace, a parish office and a rector’s study. A second floor containing classrooms and a room for student residents was included thus entirely engulfing the original parish hall structure while retaining the Battle Building name.
1958
In 1950, Rector David Yates informed the Vestry of the need for a long range plan to include building expansion, and additions to the staff of an assistant rector and a chaplain. A planning committee report, published in 1955, called for construction of a new wing with classrooms, space for a college student program, space for a youth program, and the addition of a corridor to permit transit of the building without passing through the dining room. George Watts Carr was engaged as architect. A survey done in preparation for construction (shown in yellow) revealed the existing church extended 12 feet beyond the east boundary line. The University deeded additional land to the church, and waived the 25 foot setback while continuing the requirement of the 1922 deed that all new construction on our site be subject to review by the University Architect for compatibility with surrounding structures. The flat roof of the proposed new wing was then disapproved by the UNC Buildings and Grounds Committee until a new mansard design, matching the existing Battle Building, was submitted by the contractor, Walter Toy. The expanded parish hall provided all the resources recommended by the planning committee along with a new kitchen, sacristy and vesting room. It included a full basement and a second floor with classrooms. A service of dedication for the new addition was held in September 1958. Following the death of Mr. Yates in 1967, the new wing was officially dedicated in his honor in April 1968,
1993
A report to the Vestry by the Christian Education Committee in 1984 stimulated the Vestry to engage architect Herb McKim in December 1985 to conduct a study of expansion options. The Space Needs Committee Report of 1988 called for a new fellowship hall, along with enlarged office and storage space. In May, 1989 the vestry received the report of an outside consulting group called the Human Services Institute. It urged the parish to provide for enhanced youth ministry and undertake major improvements in the building. “The present condition of facilities with the exception of the Chapel and the Sanctuary, creates for the visitor an impression that the people of Chapel of the Cross do not take their church seriously, do not engage in serious education and lack interest in clear communication. The atmosphere created in the hallways is one of darkness and coldness. The facilities of Chapel of the Cross are old and they are very well utilized. This is, however, no excuse for allowing them to become dirty and disheveled to the degree that the consultants observed.” It was also noted that the Chapel of the Cross was “...woefully lacking in debt.” The Institute report strongly urged attention to building expansion noting “…the church needs challenges.” Herb McKim of Wilmington was subsequently engaged to design building additions and renovations that were completed in April, 1994. Virtually every space in the facility was upgraded. Additions included expansion of the west end of the Battle Building, expansion of the west end of the Yates Wing, and infill to the courtyard between Battle and Yates. An elevator and new bathrooms enhanced access and resources for those with disabilities. A stairwell added to the east end of the Yates wing permitted, for the first time, access to attic space under the roof of the Yates building.
Existing Facility
Thus we
arrive at a composite view of our existing facility. There is substantial
agreement that the chapel and church have great architectural distinction and
will continue to serve our needs for the indefinite future.
By contrast the parish hall is comprised of a patchwork of structures built over many decades and incorporating design elements from multiple architects. The additions and renovations to the framework have established a network of hallways and spaces than can be confusing. Numerous modifications to roofing, heating, lighting and air-conditioning systems of differing age and design present challenges for maintenance. These factors, as well as current and projected program needs, are considerations in creating a Master Plan for the Chapel of the Cross and its future.
Rob Sullivan
Next Steps Committee
Chapel of the Cross
April 3, 2006