| Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel | |
|---|---|
 Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Christian |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Chapel |
| Year consecrated | 1908 |
| Location | |
| Location | 101 Cooper Rd Annapolis, Maryland,United States |
 | |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1904 |
| Completed | 1908 |
| Capacity | 2500 |
| Website | |
| www.usna.edu | |
TheUnited States Naval Academy Chapel inAnnapolis,Maryland, is one of nine designated chapel spaces on the grounds of the United States Navy'sservice academy. Protestant and Catholic services are held there. The Brigade Chapel is a focal point of the Academy and the city of Annapolis. The chapel is an important feature which led to the Academy being designated aNational Historic Landmark in 1961.
Traditionally, new third-class midshipmen become "Youngsters" when they sight the chapel dome upon returning from their summer cruise.[1]
The Brigade Chapel was designed byErnest Flagg.[2] The cornerstone was laid in 1904 byAdmiral George Dewey and the dedication of the Chapel was on May 28, 1908.
In 1940, the Chapel underwent remodeling which doubled the seating capacity to 2,500, to accommodate a larger brigade of midshipmen. From 1853 to 1972, chapel attendance was compulsory.[3] After remodeling, the chapel formed a large cross. The dome over the chapel is copper and thecupola is 193 feet (59 m) above the main altar area.
In 1995, the Chapel was featured on aU.S. Postal Servicepostage stamp, honoring the Academy's 150th anniversary.[4]
In 2009, nearly seventy years after the 1940 renovation and expansion, the chapel underwent an extensive restoration that included the repair of decades-long deterioration.[2] The restoration uncovered the dome's 20 feet (6.1 m)-diameteroculus (roundskylight), situated 121 feet (37 m) above the chapel floor, which had been plastered over for decades because of its deteriorating condition. The cost of the project was nearly $2.5 million, of which $925,000 was donated by the Class of 1969 to cover the cost of replacing the hardwood floors and refinishing thepews. The remaining $2.3 million came from the government.[2]
The two stained-glass windows facing the altar are symbolic. One is ofSir Galahad holding his sheathed sword, portraying the ideals of the naval service. The other signifies theCommission Invisible, a beacon each new officer must follow: Christ is pointing him toward the flag. Four other windows are memorials toLCDRTheodorus B.M. Mason andAdmiralsDavid Dixon Porter,David Farragut, andWilliam T. Sampson. Several of the stained-glass windows in the Chapel were designed byFrederick Wilson.[5]
The Brigade Chapel boasts a 268-rankorgan controlled by one of the largest drawknob consoles in the world (522 drawknobs).
The basement level of the chapel houses the crypt ofJohn Paul Jones andSt. Andrew's Chapel which is used for smaller services.
On January 26, 1913, the remains ofJohn Paul Jones were interred in the crypt beneath the Brigade Chapel, inside a sarcophagus made of 21 short tons (19 t) of black and white Italian marble with bronze fittings.[6][7][8]
In the deck around the crypt are inscribed the names of his ships:Bonhomme Richard,Alliance,Serapis,Ariel,Alfred,Providence, andRanger.
38°58′53.57″N76°29′10.64″W / 38.9815472°N 76.4862889°W /38.9815472; -76.4862889
Located in:Annapolis, Maryland | ||
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