Miller Chapel is the spiritual center of the

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of ...

, located in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, United States, and has been in continuous use since its completion in 1834. It was built by renowned local architect and builder

Charles Steadman Charles Steadman (1790–1868) was an architect and builder in Princeton, New Jersey, noted for his churches, university buildings, and especially private homes. He left a significant legacy of Greek Revival buildings at Princeton University, ...

stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...

ed brick with a simple

Doric Doric may refer to: * Doric, of or relating to the Dorians of ancient Greece ** Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians * Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture * Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode * Doric dialect (Scotland) * Doric ...

portico. As the chapel of the oldest

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

Seminary in the United States, the building has been home to many of the most important Presbyterian theologians, including the great figures of the Princeton Theology. The

narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave, opposite the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex ...

has plaques that honor Samuel Miller, after whom the chapel is named,

Charles Hodge Charles Hodge (December 27, 1797 – June 19, 1878) was a Reformed Presbyterian theologian and principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. He was a leading exponent of the Princeton Theology, an orthodox Calvinist theol ...

Archibald Alexander Hodge Archibald Alexander Hodge (July 18, 1823 – November 12, 1886), an American Presbyterian leader, was the principal of Princeton Seminary between 1878 and 1886. Biography He was born on July 18, 1823 to Sarah and Charles Hodge in Princeton, ...

Caspar Wistar Hodge, Sr. Caspar Wistar Hodge Sr. (February 21, 1830 – September 27, 1891) was an American theologian. Like his father Charles Hodge, he taught at Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary ...

, and

B. B. Warfield Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (November 5, 1851 – February 16, 1921) was professor of theology at Princeton Seminary from 1887 to 1921. He served as the last principal of the Princeton Theological Seminary from 1886 to 1902. After the death o ...

History

The chapel originally faced Mercer Street to the east and slightly behind Alexander Hall. It was designed in the Reformed tradition with one worship space, unifying the choir, congregants, and clergy, and with a central pulpit, emphasizing the proclamation of the Word of God. Originally a twin building was planned so as to flank Alexander Hall with

Greek Revival The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...

buildings in the same way Nassau Hall was flanked by the original Whig and Clio Halls. An 1874 renovation added Victorian

stained glass Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...

windows and an organ, moving away from the traditional

Reformed Reform is beneficial change Reform may also refer to: Media * ''Reform'' (album), a 2011 album by Jane Zhang * Reform (band), a Swedish jazz fusion group * ''Reform'' (magazine), a Christian magazine *''Reforme'' ("Reforms"), initial name of the ...

aversion to instruments in worship. In 1933 a more substantial renovation by

Delano & Aldrich Delano & Aldrich was an American Beaux-Arts architectural firm based in New York City. Many of its clients were among the wealthiest and most powerful families in the state. Founded in 1903, the firm operated as a partnership until 1935, when Ald ...

moved the chapel so as to face the interior of the campus, serving as the cornerstone of two squares, bounded by Alexander and Hodge Halls to the north and Stuart and Brown Halls in the south. The renovation also enlarged the building and removed the Victorian windows so as to restore a more simple appearance, consistent with the Seminary's Reformed heritage. Later renovations took place in 1964 and 2000. The chapel is home to the Joe R. Engle Organ, given to the Seminary in 2000. In addition to daily services the chapel hosts a variety of concerts during the course of the year. Weddings in the chapel are limited to those where either the bride, groom, or parent of either, is a student, graduate, trustee, or employee of the seminary. On January 25, 2022, the Board of Trustees of Princeton Seminary voted to rename Miller Chapel in light of Samuel Miller's direct ties to slavery. "This decision followed thoughtful deliberation by the Board of Trustees, and it is part of their commitment to the ongoing work of confession and repentance that was part of the historical audit on slavery." The new name is Seminary Chapel.

Gallery

File:Miller Chapel (portico).jpg, The portico with the Doric colonnade File:Miller Chapel (interior).jpg, The interior showing the central place of the pulpit File:Miller Chapel Cross.jpg, Detail of the cross File:Miller Chapel (organ).jpg, The Joe R. Engle Organ

References

External links

Princeton Theological Seminary Miller Chapel
{{Princeton, New Jersey, state=collapsed Princeton Theological Seminary Charles Steadman Buildings Religious buildings and structures completed in 1834 Churches in Princeton, New Jersey Historic district contributing properties in New Jersey National Register of Historic Places in Mercer County, New Jersey Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey

History

Gallery

See also

References

External links