Above: Hensley Memorial Chapel (1877) in Windsor, Nova Scotia
The University of King’s College did not have a free-standing chapel until the erection of the Hensley Memorial Chapel (opened opened Lent Term 1877-1878) which serves today as the chapel of King’s-Edgehill school. Before its construction the chapel was located in two of the bays of the College’s main building, primarily the one which became known as “Chapel Bay” (a name which survived the move to Halifax although given, ironically enough, to the bay furthest from the chapel on the Studley campus).
On Sundays King’s students attended Christ Church, the parish church in Windsor. However upon the initiative of the Rev. J. M. Hensley, professor of Pastoral Theology from 1859 until his death in 1876, Convocation Hall (built in 1861) was used for Sunday services until the completion of the fine gothic revival structure named in his memory.
The design of the Hensley Memorial Chapel by David Stirling reflects the high church orientation of Divinity at King’s, which was shaped by the Tractarian beliefs of Bishop Hibbert Binney, fourth bishop of Nova Scotia (1851-87). The new chapel was paid for by one of Binney’s relations. Binney’s churchmanship laid down the path followed by Hensley and like-minded professors in the Divinity school such as Archdeacon F. W. Vroom, Professor of Divinity from 1889 to 1941 and the Rev. Dr. T. H. Hunt, for many years Alexandra Professor of Divinity.
The present chapel, designed by Andrew Cobb in an eclectic mixture of gothic and Georgian styles, reflects the high church tradition of King’s with its focus upon the altar rather than upon the small and inconspicuous pulpit. The altar, incidentally, was brought from Windsor. Unlike the Hensley Memorial Chapel, the seating is arranged on the pattern of an Oxford or Cambridge college, with the stalls facing each other in the chapel proper and an ante-chapel much smaller in proportion to the whole than that at Windsor. The new King’s chapel was consecrated by Archbishop Clarendon Worrell, sixth bishop of Nova Scotia, on the 2 October, 1930, during the formal opening of “New King’s.”
Unfortunately the chapel records in the University archives are scanty but it would seem that until 1971 services in the chapel were the responsibility of the Divinity faculty. During the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s first G. Russell Hatton (later suffragan bishop of Nova Scotia) and then the Rev. Donald Trivett served as Anglican chaplains to Dalhousie but were not priests-in-charge of the chapel.
The chaplaincy in its present form dates from the removal of the Divinity faculty to the Atlantic School of Theology in 1971. In that year, the Rev. F.G. Krieger was appointed priest-in-charge. Three years later the Rev. Robert Petite succeeded him as priest-in-charge and was appointed Anglican chaplain to the University. He was followed as priest-in-charge and University chaplain in 1977 by the Rev. Dr. G. Richmond Bridge, who remained in the position until 1998. After a year’s hiatus when the Rev. Dr. Thomas Curran served as priest-in-charge, the Rev. Dr. Paul Friesen became priest-in-charge and University chaplain until 2005. From thence, the Rev. Dr. Gary Thorne held these positions, until he was succeeded in August 2018 by the Rev. Dr. Ranall Ingalls.
As is the case with the chaplaincy, the Chapel Choir came into being after 1971, first under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Robert Crouse, followed by others, including the late Helen Roby, David Buley and for many years by Dr. Walter Kemp, professor of music and a King’s faculty member. Upon his retirement, he was succeeded in 2007 by Paul Halley.
Written by Dr. Henry Roper. Revised August 13, 2018 and (by Alan Rempel) September 3, 2019. Updated December 2023.
Chapel Furnishings
A saint George Icon-Banner in memory of fr. dr. robert darwin crouse
At the time of the funeral for Fr. Crouse in the King’s Chapel in January 2011 the Chapel executive decided to commission a banner icon of Saint George to replace the 1907 Saint George banner that had hung in the chapel for almost a century.
A banner of Saint George and the Dragon was presented to the University of King’s College in 1907 by Earl Grey, Governor-General of Canada, 1904-1911. This banner was one of nine embroidered and appliqued flags commissioned by Lord Grey to be placed in various learning institutions across the country. According to L.A.M. Lovekin, c. 1910, “It is understood that it is the intention of the Governor General to give these banners, on the conclusion of his term of office, to different educational institutions, where, it is hoped, they will unconsciously help to infuse into the rising generation a sentiment for art, for colour and for idealism, teaching young Canadians that it is the duty of every individual, after the fashion of St. George, to kill the Dragon of evil wherever it may be found.”
This banner survived the King’s College Windsor fire of 1920. It was removed to Halifax and hung in the King’s College Chapel until it was removed to the archives for safe keeping because of its deteriorating physical condition. Until the Banner was removed from the Chapel it was used regularly for outdoor processions and had been an integral part of the devotional life of students and all who worshiped in the Chapel for almost a century.
H.M.C.S. King’s: Baptismal Font and COlours
The ante-chapel is the entrance lobby at the west end of the Chapel. Historically, this area of a church was used for baptism of new Christians into the faith, which traditionally occurs on the eve of Easter, during a night of vigil. The baptismal font is located here as a visible sign and constant reminder of this beginning of a new life. Our baptismal font is the ship’s bell of H.M.C.S. King’s, given to the College for housing 3,160 volunteer reserve naval officers in training from 1941-1945. The regimental colours, guidon, and commanding officers sword of the Haifax Rifles, an armoured regiment organized in 1860, are also laid up in the antechapel.
About the Colours, John Gordon Quigley wrote the following in his book A century of rifles: 1860-1960:
“It is with especial pride that we record that these COLOURS were given to the Regiment by the Corporation of the City of Halifax, in the year 1862, in recognition of valuable service the Regiment was performing in training themselves in their spare time to be ready to defend Canada as they are doing today. The presentation took place on November 10th, 1862. The day was proclaimed a Public Holiday, and a full review of Permanent Force and Reserve men too place on the Commons. Mrs. P. C. Hill, wife of the Mayor of Halifax made the presentation on behalf of the Halifax City Council. Captain William Chearnley, (Captain Commanding) accepted the COLOURS on behalf of the Regiment. At the outbreak of the Second World War the COLOURS were deposited with due ceremony in the Chapel of the University of King’s College, where they still remain.”
Altar
The altar, representing Christ Himself, stands at the east end of the building, in the direction of the rising sun, to recall both the Creation and the Resurrection and to anticipate the Second Coming. The Chapel altar, which was originally designed for the Hensley Memorial Chapel in Windsor, was extended by two panels when it was brought to Halifax.
Eagle Lecturn
The oak eagle lecturn, an excellent example of English wood carving, was also brought from Windsor. The eagle with outstretched wings signifies the flight of the Gospel over the world, and is also the symbol of the fourth evangelist, Saint John. It was acquired in 1893 by the efforts of Mrs. Willets and Mrs. Vroom who collected donations for the piece.
Stained Glass
The stained glass in the Palladian window above the altar, appropriately depicting the young Christ among the doctors in the temple (Lk. 2:41-52), is in memory of the Rev’d Dr. Charles Willets, President of the College from 1889-1904. Side panels in the sanctuary depict our Lord teaching by the sea (Mk.4:1) and at supper in Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35).