Honoring William and Mary's History - Tribe Pride

Honoring William & Mary’s History

Thank you to W&M grads (and bloggers) Karen Hall and Beach Girl for starting this blog as a complementary effort to the online petition at SaveTheWrenCross.org.

The petition and blog are part of a growing ad hoc coalition of students and alumni of the College of William & Mary in Virginia who are opposed to W&M’s new President Gene Nichol’s October 2006 order to remove the 100 year old Wren Chapel Cross from permanent display on the altar table in the College’s 274 year old historically Anglican Wren Chapel (to be used henceforth in Wren Chapel only during "appropriate religious services").

The Wren Cross had been a permanent fixture on the Wren Chapel altar since it was given to the College by Williamsburg neighbor Bruton Parish Episcopal Church in the 1930s. SaveTheWrenCross.org, like this blog, is dedicated to the return to the policy that governed the display of the Wren Cross in Wren Chapel before President Nichol’s order to remove it, which permitted any group or individual using the Wren Chapel to remove the Wren Cross upon request during their use of the Wren Chapel.

SaveTheWrenCross.org launched on November 7th. It is a Clearing House for news , Facts , and opinions concerning the decision to remove the Wren Cross.

It features a number of letters to President Nichol from W&M alumni opposed to the decision. It also features an online petition addressed to President Nichol requesting him to reverse his decision and return the Wren Cross.

As of today, the petition has over 6,800 signatures of students, alumni, Virginians, and concerned citizens, including former members of the College’s Board of Visitors.

Those who support restoring the Wren Cross represent a wide cross section of people – Christians, Jews, atheists, non-religious, liberals, conservatives. They also represent a wide cross section of perspectives. (You can find several documents reflecting my views: here, here and here.)

This blog is an opportunity for us to discuss those perspectives as well as share ideas and strategies to achieve the stated goal of the petition.

We intend the tone of the discussion to be civil and respectful. Perhaps at times sharp, but not strident. Your views and perspectives are welcome. We hope that this blog will be of service to you.

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