Royal Military College of Canada chapels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Royal Military College of Canada Chapels
St-Raphael Roman Catholic chapel; Saint Martin Protestant chapel; Muslim sacred space
Chapel, Yeo Hall, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
44°13′44″N 76°28′07″W / 44.22889°N 76.46861°W / 44.22889; -76.46861
Location	Yeo Hall, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario
Country	Canada
Denomination	Protestant; Catholic and Muslim
History
Status	Church within Yeo Hall
Founded	1963
Consecrated	1963
Architecture
Heritage designation	Yeo Hall is a recognized Federal Heritage Building on the Registry of Historic Buildings of Canada
Designated	1990
Architectural type	Gothic Revival architecture
Style	Collegiate Gothic style
Specifications
Materials	Limestone

The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) has two special chapels inside Yeo Hall. These chapels, named St-Raphael Roman Catholic chapel and Saint Martin Protestant chapel, were built in 1963. They help students and staff at RMC with their spiritual well-being. People who have studied or worked at RMC have given many gifts to these chapels over the years.

History of the Chapels

Before the chapels were built, the Roman Catholic community at RMC met in Yeo Hall. In 1963, two college chaplains, Major Johnson and Major Dufour, helped create the chapels. St. Martin's, the Protestant Chapel, can seat 70 people. It was officially opened on May 26, 1963. St. Raphael's (originally called St. Michael's), the Roman Catholic Chapel, can seat 110 people. It was officially opened on December 9, 1963.

Both chapels have light-colored oak wood panels. St. Martin's has six beautiful stained glass windows. One window shows a knight in armor, and another has the College's Coat of Arms. St. Martin's also has blue carpet and blue altar decorations.

St. Raphael's also has six stained glass windows. These windows were given by important people connected to the college. One window has the College Crest. At night, lights inside the chapel shine through the windows, making them visible from outside on campus.

The first baptism in St. Raphael's Chapel happened on March 15, 1964. A baby girl named Helene Louisa was baptized there.

Spiritual Support at RMC

The Chaplain Services Department at RMC helps everyone at the college. Their main goals are to support their own faith groups, help others worship, and care for everyone. They offer many ways for cadets, teachers, and staff to explore their faith. This includes worship services, prayer, and programs that help people in need.

Yeo Hall: Home of the Chapels

Royal Military College of Canada, Yeo Hall

The chapels are located in Yeo Hall, a historic building at RMC. Yeo Hall was built in 1934–1935 and is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was recognized as a special heritage building in 1990. The building was updated in 1997, adding more dining and recreation areas. The basement was also improved to include band, medical, and dental facilities.

Memorial Gallery: Remembering Heroes

A special Memorial Gallery was created in the hallway outside the chapels in 1964. This gallery honors former cadets who died while serving their country. Several stained glass windows were placed here. One window, given by the Class of 1964, shows a "Cadet with Reversed Arms." Another, from the class that started in 1934, is called "Last Post" and remembers their classmates.

Multifaith Programs and Spaces

The Royal Military College of Canada supports different faiths. The Catholic and Protestant communities usually have services in their chapels on Sunday mornings. The Muslim community has prayer times in a special multi-faith sacred space during the week.

This sacred space is designed for anyone to use for worship or quiet reflection, no matter their faith. To make the Christian chapel more welcoming for different faiths, a folding wall was installed. This wall can separate the Christian parts of the room (like statues and crosses) from an area with no images. This allows people of various faiths to pray or reflect comfortably. Footbaths were also added in the washrooms to help Muslim personnel with their washing rituals.

The chaplains at RMC work hard to make sure students and staff of all faith traditions feel welcome and supported.

Copper Sunday Tradition

A tradition called Copper Sunday started in 1882. On the last Sunday of the school year, Officer cadets visit different churches in Kingston. RMC does not try to make cadets follow a certain religion. Instead, this tradition helps cadets learn about religious ceremony. This knowledge can be useful if they need to help with official duties in the future. The name "Copper Sunday" comes from the cadets collecting their pennies for the offering plate.

Baptisms at the Chapel

Baptismal font, Chapel, Yeo Hall, Royal Military College of Canada

Following a naval tradition, a ship's bell from the Royal Roads Military College is used as a baptismal font in the RMC chapel. The names of those who are baptized there are later carved onto the bell.

Chapel Library

The chapels have a library in Yeo Hall with books in Arabic, English, French, and Hebrew. These books are for people of all faiths. As future officers in the Canadian Forces, RMC students need to learn about different religions. This is especially important because many peacekeeping missions happen overseas.

Stained Glass Windows

Many of the beautiful stained glass windows in the RMC chapels were made by Robert McCausland Limited, a company that has created stained glass since 1856. These windows often honor former cadets or important figures connected to the college.

Location	Date	Description	Inscription	Window
Roman Catholic Chapel	1938	A window showing the Lamb of God carrying a flag.	In memory of the class entering in 1938 who gave their lives for Canada.
Roman Catholic Chapel	1963	A window with lilies and the letter M.	Given by General and Mrs. A. G. L. McNaughton, in memory of their son, S/L. Ian G.A. McNaughton, who died in 1942.
Roman Catholic Chapel	1963	A window with Alpha Omega, a Bible, and a Torch.	Given by Mrs. Katherine (Kit) Macklem, in memory of her husband and father.
Roman Catholic Chapel		A window showing a Dove.	Given by Major-General Edouard de B. Panet and Mrs. Marguerite Panet.
Roman Catholic Chapel		A window with a Chalice and wheat.	Given by Lt.-Col. Thomas Fraser Gelley and Mrs. Gelley.
Protestant Chapel	1963	A window with the Royal Military College Crest.	Given by the Kingston Branch of the RMC Club on May 26, 1963.
Protestant Chapel	1963	A window showing Timothy, a knight in armor.	Given by Mrs. Sutherland-Brown in memory of her son, Ian Macdonell Sutherland-Brown, who died in 1941.
Protestant Chapel	1963	A window showing a Dove.	In memory of Squadron Leader Donald Eaton Galloway, Class of 1959.
Protestant Chapel	1963	A window with an open book.	In memory of Lieutenant John Carson, the first from the Class of 1964 to pass away.
Protestant Chapel	1963	A window showing the Lamb of God.	In memory of Group Captain Douglas Edwards.
Protestant Chapel	1963	A window with a chalice.	In memory of Lieutenant Kris K. Gammeljord, Class of 1975.
Yeo Hall, Memorial Hall (outside chapels)	1964	A window showing a Cadet resting on arms reversed.	Presented by the graduating class on May 29, 1964.
Yeo Hall, main staircase landing	1964	A window with "RMC and Tri-Service Crests."	Presented by the Toronto branch of the R.M.C. Club of Canada in 1964.
Yeo Hall, Memorial Hall (outside chapels)	1934	A window called "Last Post."	Presented by the class entering RMC in 1934 as a memorial to fallen classmates.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Kingston, Ontario)		An antique window with the RMC crest and motto.	Royal Military College of Canada stained glass window.

Commemorative Plaques

There are also plaques that remember individuals.

Commemorative Paintings

The Jablonowsli family donated four paintings. These paintings remember four cadets from Mackenzie flight who died in a plane crash on January 24, 1988. The cadets were Ocdt. Scott McMonagle, Ocdt. Dan Richardson, Ocdt. Ray Koebel, and Ocdt. Frank Joseph Jablonowski.

Kingston Churches and RMC

Bag piper, Padre, Currie Hall, Royal Military College of Canada

For many years, RMC cadets have marched to local churches like St. George's Cathedral (Kingston, Ontario) for special services. St. George's Cathedral has a gallery with stained glass windows showing soldier saints, including St. George. Newer windows were added to this gallery in 2002 and 2003.

See also

• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army
• Canadian Forces