United Church, The Chapel on the Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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United Church, The Chapel on the Hill
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Chapel on the Hill
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
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| Area | 700-series U.S. Army chapel |
| Built | 1943 |
| Architect | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Part of | Oak Ridge Historic District (ID91001109) |
| MPS | Oak Ridge MPS |
| Designated CP | September 05, 1991 |
The United Church, Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge, Tennessee was a very important church during World War II. It was finished in October 1943. This special building was a chapel that many different religious groups shared. People who were Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish all used it.
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What the Chapel Looks Like
The Chapel on the Hill was designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is a wooden building with a rectangular shape. It has a tall steeple and a bell tower. There is also a gable entry porch at the front.
This chapel was one of three similar Army chapels built in Oak Ridge during World War II. One of the other chapels, called the West Chapel, was later taken down. But the East Chapel is still used today.
History of the Chapel
The U.S. Army built this chapel for religious activities. It was part of many community buildings in Oak Ridge. The chapel was officially opened on September 30, 1943. At the opening, leaders from different faiths spoke and prayed. These included a Jewish rabbi, a Catholic priest, and several Protestant ministers. The name "The Chapel on the Hill" came from a prayer given at this event.
How the United Church Started
The United Church congregation, which now owns the chapel, began on July 18, 1943. About 25 to 30 Christians from different church backgrounds met for worship. They decided to create a church that would welcome all Protestant groups. This new church would be led by regular members, not just ministers.
A Presbyterian minister from Knoxville agreed to lead weekly services. About 150 people from 13 different Protestant groups became the first members. They called themselves "the United Church." Leaders chosen by the members started their duties on October 24, 1943.
The Chapel During World War II
When the Chapel on the Hill was finished in October 1943, the United Church and the local Roman Catholic Church were given control of it. These were the only two churches officially working in the Manhattan Project community at the time.
During the war, Oak Ridge's Manhattan Project facilities ran all day and night. The chapel was also used almost 24 hours a day. It hosted worship services, weddings, and other events. People of many different faiths used the chapel.
At the busiest time of the war, Oak Ridge had over 70,000 people. The United Church had four ministers. They held services at the Chapel on the Hill, the East Village Chapel, and the Jefferson Theater. They also had Sunday school classes in local schools and a trailer camp.
The Chapel After the War
By 1951, the United Church Chapel-on-the-Hill became one single interdenominational church. This means it brought together people from many different Christian groups. The Chapel on the Hill building became its permanent home.
The United Church bought the chapel and about 3.72 acres (1.51 ha) of land from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission on May 11, 1955. They paid $17,116 for it. An extra building for education was added next to the chapel in 1956–1957.
Today, the facility still works as a church that welcomes all Protestant groups. It is led by its members and has ministers from mainstream Protestant backgrounds. Since 2007, it has been connected with the Center for Progressive Christianity. The church's motto is: "Where People from All Denominations Meet in Their Differences, but Are One in Their Search for God."
The Chapel-on-the-Hill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it is a special historical building within the Oak Ridge Historic District.
