Welcome to Chapel House

A sanctuary and retreat center in Hamilton, New York, atop the rolling hills of the beautiful Colgate University campus, Chapel House is for prayer and meditation for guests from all religious traditions, or none.

Chapel House provides a setting for study of religious books, art and music created by men and women who have made religious discoveries worth transmitting. At Chapel House that study and reflection can be made in an environment conducive to the meditative and devotional disciplines recommended by great religious teachers.

Chapel House has a library containing over five thousand volumes and many works of religious art; a music room with a large collection of recorded religious music; a serene chapel; six guest rooms providing privacy and quiet; and a dining room where meals are served to resident guests.

Chapel House welcomes anyone of any religious tradition – or none – who will take the initiative to use its facilities for religious study, meditation, or worship. At Chapel House, the seeker must personally discover the insights in the books, art, music and the silence. No discipline is imposed; no teacher gives instruction. When asked, the Director or Resident Supervisor will help find answers to questions.

Chapel House is supportive of the personal quest: uncluttered by group conferences, meetings or organized discussions, programs or sponsored worship. This genuine openness to the personal quest assures that Chapel House will not maintain formal affiliation with any particular religious organization or be used as convenient housing for campus or community visitors.

Chapel House has been used by people from many parts of the world and many walks of life since it opened in 1959. Guests have come from all over the United States, Canada, Europe, from Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Tibet and Japan. Guests have been priests, monks, nuns, ministers, rabbis; high school and college students; farmers, homemakers, secretaries, laborers and professionals. They have been Buddhist, Theravada, Tibetan, Shinshu and Zen; Christian, Baptist, Congregationalist, Episcopalian, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Quaker and Roman Catholic; Hindu; Jewish; Muslim, both Shi’a and Sunni; Shinto and people with no religious affiliation.

Visitors are welcome since it is necessary to see Chapel House in order to understand its unique qualities. Many visitors come to use the library, music room or chapel, either for a few hours, or as guests staying for a longer period. Visitors are encouraged to maintain a quiet decorum throughout the facility.

Wherever you turn in Chapel House you will see works of art created by artists who sought to express their religious insights: a Guanyin from China before the twelfth century, old and modern Tibetan tankas, a Christ on the Cross by Mestrovic, a bronze bas-relief Revelation by Elbert Weinberg which was commissioned for Chapel House, rubbings from the Tang Dynasty’s sculptures of Bodhidharma and Guanyin, a three-centuries old Natarajan, a page of Kufic calligraphy from a ninth century Qur’an, Japanese scrolls several centuries old and modern Zen calligraphy, and original works by Rembrandt, Chagall, Rouault and Kano.

Books, recordings and works of art may not be taken from Chapel House.

The Chapel within Chapel House was designed primarily for individual use with stalls at the rear making it possible for several people to be present at the same time without disturbing one another. Two oratories provide complete privacy when the curtains are drawn. Rather than pews, individual chairs are used, designed so that a person can sit erect comfortably for a long time in meditation.

The chapel has not been dedicated: it is consecrated by the worship of those who use it. The presence of the cross in the chapel is an acknowledgment both that the chapel was built by Christians and of the importance of religious symbols in prayerful and meditational reflection – but not of their requirement. If one prefers a different symbol, or no symbol at all, the curtain may be drawn and the chapel used according to one’s preference.

Although the chapel is designed primarily for individual use for meditation and personal devotions, and Chapel House does not organize services, the chapel may be reserved for use by groups. The chapel with its organ, pulpit, altar and an Ark has been used for Protestant, Greek Orthodox and Jewish services and Roman Catholic Masses, and for christenings, weddings and funerals. The chapel has also been used as a place of worship by Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims.

Chapel House’s music room provides an opportunity to experience the religious musical classics from the Jewish and Christian traditions as well as the music and chants of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Native Americans. Hundreds of works of religious music from the earliest times to the latest experimental compositions are housed throughout the room. Recordings may be played by anyone who has been instructed in the use of the sound equipment. Catalogues of the collection are available, along with filed LP record jackets.

History

Hamilton, New York, the home of Colgate University and Chapel House, is located on NYS Route 12B in Central New York at the point of a vee southeast of Syracuse and southwest of Utica. Detailed directions to Hamilton are available on numerous travel web sites including www.mapquest.com. Chapel House is at the top of the campus.

From the north (heading south on 12B), turn left onto the campus at the second traffic light in Hamilton (Sign for Colgate University at drive entrance). Traveling up the hill, take the second right turning which is in front of James B. Colgate Hall (Administration Building) onto Alumni Drive.

*After two stop signs, bear left and then turn sharply to the right and up the hill onto Chapel House Road. The road curves through a wooded area to the parking lot on the left. Chapel House is on the right.

From the south (heading north on 12B), turn right at the first traffic light onto College Street. Continue up the hill, turn right in front of James B. Colgate Hall (Administration Building). Bear right onto Alumni Drive and continue up hill. *Same directions apply at this point.