Packer Memorial Chapel (also known as Packer Memorial Church) is a historic church on the campus of

Lehigh University Lehigh University (LU) is a private research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The university was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer and was originally affiliated with the Epi ...

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Bethlehem is a city in Northampton and Lehigh Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, Bethlehem had a total population of 75,781. Of this, 55,639 were in Northampton County and 19, ...

, United States.

History

Packer Memorial Chapel was designed by Philadelphia architect

Addison Hutton Addison Hutton (1834–1916) was a Philadelphia architect who designed prominent residences in Philadelphia and its suburbs, plus courthouses, hospitals, and libraries, including the Ridgway Library (now Philadelphia High School for the Creative a ...

, and built in 1885 when the university was affiliated with the Episcopal Church. It was donated by Mary Packer Cummings in memory of her father,

Asa Packer Asa Packer (December 29, 1805May 17, 1879) was an American businessman who pioneered railroad construction, was active in Pennsylvania politics, and founded Lehigh University. He was a conservative and religious man who reflected the image of th ...

. The cornerstone was laid on "the seventh Founder's Day, October 8, 1885" and the consecration took place "Two years later, on the ninth Founder's Day, October 13, 1887". The chapel was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1979.

, on the other hand, was buried in Mauch Chunk Cemetery,

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania Jim Thorpe is a borough and the county seat of Carbon County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is historically known as the burial site of Native American sports legend Jim Thorpe. Jim Thorpe is l ...

, where his mansion was located. Currently non-denominational, the chapel is operated by the Office of the University Chaplain.The University Chaplain's Office Mission and Information, https://chaplain.lehigh.edu/university-chaplains-office-mission-and-information On Sundays,

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

mass is usually held at 12:10 pm and 9:10 pm in the chapel. On Fridays, Muslim prayers are held at 1:10 pm. The Church is also available for weddings in which at least one of the parties is a Lehigh University student or alumnus. It was also formerly the location of the freshman convocation, held during orientation at the beginning of each

school year A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compul ...

; however due to growing class size, convocations were moved to the larger Baker Auditorium in the Zoellner Arts Center, beginning in 2007. "The Catacombs", was named on February 1, 1969 for a coffee house in the basement of the church. It soon became disused and was later a social meeting place for graduate student.

was buried in Mauch Chunk Cemetery,

, where his mansion was located.

Gallery

File:Packer Memorial Church interior view 1896.jpg, Interior in 1896. Image:Packer_Memorial_Church_Side_Entrance.jpg, Above an entrance to Packer Memorial Church Image:Packer_Chapel_1.JPG, Packer Chapel Entrance Image:Packer_Chapel_2.jpg, Packer Chapel Rear Detail Image:Packer_Chapel_3.jpg, Packer Chapel Side Detail

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Gothic Revival church buildings in Pennsylvania Churches completed in 1885 19th-century Episcopal church buildings Churches in Northampton County, Pennsylvania National Register of Historic Places in Northampton County, Pennsylvania 1885 establishments in Pennsylvania Lehigh University buildings and structures