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From a resolution unanimously adopted by the W&M Board of Visitors on Nov. 17, 2006
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02 November
The Virginian-Pilot: Faulty reasoning on removal of cross at W&M;
The chapel in the Wren Building, near the apex of the William and Mary campus, is a hushed room of stone and dark paneling, rows of high-backed pews facing a central aisle, a small altar at the head of the room ringed by a rail.
The Virginian-Pilot
November 2, 2006
The chapel in the Wren Building, near the apex of the William and Mary campus, is a hushed room of stone and dark paneling, rows of high-backed pews facing a central aisle, a small altar at the head of the room ringed by a rail.
On that old altar rests a golden cross, a reminder that even as it serves a secular and state-sponsored university, the chapel also serves the higher purpose befitting a college founded in 1693 as an extension of the Anglican Church.
Early in its history, residents of the colony were required by law to worship in such a sanctuary. That eventually changed in Virginia and America, not least because of efforts of the school’s most famous graduate, Thomas Jefferson, author of the commonwealth’s Statute of Religious Freedom.
After William and Mary became a state university in the early 1900s, the cross remained on the altar even when the place was being used for avowedly secular — and, even decidedly unsanctioned — purposes. Still, the Wren Chapel remains a religious room of such gravity in campus life that graduates return there when the time comes to marry.
Given all that history, all that freight, it’s understandable that plenty of folks are buzzing about the college’s decision to remove the cross from the altar. By default, from now on, the altar will be bare, though the cross can return for events where it is appropriate.
School leaders’ removed the cross as a sign of tolerance and inclusiveness in a diverse world. The reasoning goes like this:
“[T]he chapel is also used frequently for college events that are secular in nature — and should be open to students and staff of all beliefs,” wrote school President Gene Nichol. “Whether celebrating our happiest moments, marking our greatest achievements, or finding solace during our most profound sadness, our chapel, like our entire campus, must be welcoming to all.
“I believe a recognition of the full dignity of each member of our diverse community is vital.”
Nichol’s intentions are noble, his desire for inclusiveness of a piece with his aspirations for a William and Mary less homogenous than it has been for centuries, and is even today.
Removing the cross, however, does little to recognize the dignity of diversity. It does obscure what is otherwise obvious — Wren Chapel is a Christian chapel — and the religious heritage of the university.
And it can’t really solve the problem. Nothing short of bulldozing the chapel would ease all discomfort with having a storied Christian sanctuary on a secular campus.
That, of course, won’t ever happen.
So we’re left with this small but provocative measure. In the end, for the observant, taking the cross from the altar at Wren Chapel makes the room no less a Christian space. It only makes it seem as if administration officials are uncomfortable that it is.
USER COMMENTS
Shall we wipe clean history in the name of political correctness? (hide comment)
Diversity is a welcomed aspect of our changing society, but what about history - the heritage of our being? Shall we wipe clean all vestiges of the people and trends that brought us to this point in time - for the sake of never offending a few who would place their interests above all of us? I think not. If we allow such thinking to go on - expunging all symbols for individualism in our society - diversity itself will fade into one homogenized world where there is no chance of offending - and the proud history and heritage of our nation will simply fade away.
- William Thompson - Walnut Creek Shall we wipe clean history in the name of political correctness?
What to do about the name?
Should we change the name from Wren Chapel to "Wren Room Where It Is Our Intention to Try and Make Everyone Feel OK About Who They Happen To Be". That kinda rolls off the tongue, doesn't it. I guess stripping the history out of the college will fix things, right? Somehow hiding or denying this will make everyone tolerant, right? I think it is ironic that while attempting to make people comfortable and others tolerant, there is no attempt by the "non-tolerated" groups to tolerate the fact that there were Christians in America during the construction of a beautiful building. The Wren Chapel is a historic building built as a Christian place of worship, and I think Thomas Jefferson would be greatly disappointed. My wife and I, having spent some of the best years of our lives there, are greatly disappointed. Sadly, it is what I have come to expect from the college. Go Indians... I mean, Tribe... I mean, Tribe... without the feathers that may cause folks to think about Indians.
- Brett C. - Portsmouth What to do about the name?
Faulty reasoning on removal of cross at W&M;
Is this the same hair-brained reason the people can smoke pot and Hookahs at that other local liberal place called a college?
- Buddy H. - Virginia Beach
The Virginian-Pilot
November 2, 2006
The chapel in the Wren Building, near the apex of the William and Mary campus, is a hushed room of stone and dark paneling, rows of high-backed pews facing a central aisle, a small altar at the head of the room ringed by a rail.
On that old altar rests a golden cross, a reminder that even as it serves a secular and state-sponsored university, the chapel also serves the higher purpose befitting a college founded in 1693 as an extension of the Anglican Church.
Early in its history, residents of the colony were required by law to worship in such a sanctuary. That eventually changed in Virginia and America, not least because of efforts of the school’s most famous graduate, Thomas Jefferson, author of the commonwealth’s Statute of Religious Freedom.
After William and Mary became a state university in the early 1900s, the cross remained on the altar even when the place was being used for avowedly secular — and, even decidedly unsanctioned — purposes. Still, the Wren Chapel remains a religious room of such gravity in campus life that graduates return there when the time comes to marry.
Given all that history, all that freight, it’s understandable that plenty of folks are buzzing about the college’s decision to remove the cross from the altar. By default, from now on, the altar will be bare, though the cross can return for events where it is appropriate.
School leaders’ removed the cross as a sign of tolerance and inclusiveness in a diverse world. The reasoning goes like this:
“[T]he chapel is also used frequently for college events that are secular in nature — and should be open to students and staff of all beliefs,” wrote school President Gene Nichol. “Whether celebrating our happiest moments, marking our greatest achievements, or finding solace during our most profound sadness, our chapel, like our entire campus, must be welcoming to all.
“I believe a recognition of the full dignity of each member of our diverse community is vital.”
Nichol’s intentions are noble, his desire for inclusiveness of a piece with his aspirations for a William and Mary less homogenous than it has been for centuries, and is even today.
Removing the cross, however, does little to recognize the dignity of diversity. It does obscure what is otherwise obvious — Wren Chapel is a Christian chapel — and the religious heritage of the university.
And it can’t really solve the problem. Nothing short of bulldozing the chapel would ease all discomfort with having a storied Christian sanctuary on a secular campus.
That, of course, won’t ever happen.
So we’re left with this small but provocative measure. In the end, for the observant, taking the cross from the altar at Wren Chapel makes the room no less a Christian space. It only makes it seem as if administration officials are uncomfortable that it is.
USER COMMENTS
Shall we wipe clean history in the name of political correctness? (hide comment)
Diversity is a welcomed aspect of our changing society, but what about history - the heritage of our being? Shall we wipe clean all vestiges of the people and trends that brought us to this point in time - for the sake of never offending a few who would place their interests above all of us? I think not. If we allow such thinking to go on - expunging all symbols for individualism in our society - diversity itself will fade into one homogenized world where there is no chance of offending - and the proud history and heritage of our nation will simply fade away.
- William Thompson - Walnut Creek Shall we wipe clean history in the name of political correctness?
What to do about the name?
Should we change the name from Wren Chapel to "Wren Room Where It Is Our Intention to Try and Make Everyone Feel OK About Who They Happen To Be". That kinda rolls off the tongue, doesn't it. I guess stripping the history out of the college will fix things, right? Somehow hiding or denying this will make everyone tolerant, right? I think it is ironic that while attempting to make people comfortable and others tolerant, there is no attempt by the "non-tolerated" groups to tolerate the fact that there were Christians in America during the construction of a beautiful building. The Wren Chapel is a historic building built as a Christian place of worship, and I think Thomas Jefferson would be greatly disappointed. My wife and I, having spent some of the best years of our lives there, are greatly disappointed. Sadly, it is what I have come to expect from the college. Go Indians... I mean, Tribe... I mean, Tribe... without the feathers that may cause folks to think about Indians.
- Brett C. - Portsmouth What to do about the name?
Faulty reasoning on removal of cross at W&M;
Is this the same hair-brained reason the people can smoke pot and Hookahs at that other local liberal place called a college?
- Buddy H. - Virginia Beach