VCU Department of Pastoral Care Dedicates Renovated Chapel at VCU

"After three years of planning and building, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Pastoral Care opened the doors to a newly renovated chapel at the VCU Medical Center." KSA had the pleasure of working with the multi-disciplined committee and colleagues from our industry on this beautiful project.

“Today is an absolute celebration,” said Ann Charlescraft, M.Ed., manager of Bereavement Services for the VCU Medical Center. “This is a chapel for the whole community, it was important for us to do it together, support it together and create it together.”

Opening with the Main Hospital in 1981, the modestly decorated chapel remained untouched until 2007, when a committee made up of 15 people from multiple disciplines, cultures and faiths began working on renovations. Together they created the design direction and wrote the following proposal to the hospital administration:

“Caring for spiritual needs of patients, families and staff is a collective and community endeavor, thus participation both within and without the hospital provides for a sense of belonging, compassionate care and connection with something or someone greater than self or system. This is an opportunity for embracing and enhancing the ‘soul’ of our institution.”


Support for the new chapel came from throughout the school and community, and the Department of Pastoral Care decided to include a chapel renovation donor wall outside the new chapel.


The renovated chapel provides comfortable space for all religious and spiritual needs. Rounded walls, adaptable seating and a lack of religious icons offer a place for the whole community.


The opening ceremony highlighted a variety of faiths through readings of sacred passages from various books. Following a prayer of dedication, Ken Faulkner, director of Pastoral Care, officially opened the space to all."

Today, we invite you to enjoy this article (above) and video (below) courtesy of the VCU Office of Communications and Public Relations.
 

 

Stay tuned for the upcoming Project Spotlight with more details on this special project!