Wren Chapel - Todd Skiles reports on what should be behind the altar?

B.J. Pryor indicated that historically, the Wren Chapel had not previously displayed a cross behind the altar. Bruton Parish historians have confirmed this assumption.

However, if we want to discuss what should and should not be displayed in the historic Anglican chapel, we must look past the cross to the panel behind the altar, otherwise known as the reredos. Anglican Canon Law at the time of construction (1732) required certain texts to be displayed, specifically the Lord's Prayer, the Apostle's Creed and the Decalogue (Ten Commandments.)

In 1715 the new sanctuary for Bruton Parish was completed under the watch of The Rev. James Blair, Rector of the Parish. That church had the texts displayed and they were painstakingly included in the restoration. Since Blair also saw to the construction of the Wren Chapel just 17 years later, it would follow that he would have ensured compliance at this later sanctuary too.

There is no reason why he would arbitrarily decide to abandon these critical texts, particularly in light of the school's two missions: train priests and convert the native residents. So where are these texts?

As any student will attest - the reredos in the Wren Chapel is strangely blank. While the original reredos was obviously lost in one of the fires or wars which have tragically gutted this building - nonetheless these texts must have existed. If historical accuracy is to be a measure of the Chapel's appearance, then the reredos would need to be properly and completely restored, to include the Lord's Prayer, Creed and Decalogue.

In the end, the fact is that this was undoubtedly an Anglican Chapel. Christianity built this chapel, rebuilt this chapel, sustained and maintained this chapel. Whether it's a cross or a creed, the ongoing efforts of short-sighted academics to strip the Wren Chapel of its complete history is irresponsible at best.

Let this Chapel be what it was made to be - an Anglican Chapel. President Nichol can't possibly believe that on a campus this size, with its vast collection of historic and scenic spaces, there is no place left to publicly recognize the Anglican contribution to a school so beloved by so many.

Todd Skiles
Class of 1992