In a year that includes Gustavus’ sesquicentennial celebration, the new Beck Academic building and the annual Nobel Conference, among many other exciting news and events, Gustavus also celebrates another milestone anniversary, the 50th year of Christ Chapel. Although Christ Chapel has always been a central point for Gustavus both geographically and spiritually, few know its history.

On March 2, 1959, residents of St. Peter, students, professors, staff and Clement Attlee, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, gathered at the current site of Christ Chapel to celebrate the ground breaking ceremony.

In the fall of 1961 construction was completed, and the first service held was the opening convocation of Gustavus’ 100th anniversary on Sept. 10, 1961. It was after this that Christ Chapel began to make a home for itself at Gustavus by hosting a variety of events that are still cherished by many.

The most attended event every year is Christmas in Christ Chapel, which began almost 39 years ago and is an attraction for Gustavus faculty, alumni, students and St. Peter residents alike.

Another Christ Chapel tradition, he St. Lucia Festival began in 1941, and carries on the Swedish tradition of honoring St. Lucia, the martyred saint, by having students nominate and vote for five sophomore women who demonstrate the Saint’s same qualities.

In the spring, Christ Chapel hosts the annual MAYDAY! Peace Conference. This event began in 1980 with the theme of “Arms Control-MAYDAY! MAYDAY!” Every year speakers who are experts on the selected social justice topic come to Gustavus to give lectures which raise questions and make students think about what kind of world we are living in.

Rachel Larson, our current chaplain, describes the overarching worship theme of this academic year as “50th Anniversary Year of Jubilee with a sub-theme of Celebrating a Heritage of Faith and Learning.”

To celebrate the Gustavus Swedish-Lutheran heritage, Christ Chapel will be hosting the National Lutheran Choir on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. for an All Saints Festival, along with Richard Elvee, who will be Gustavus’ chaplain in residence from April 16-22, 2012.

There are countless general events occurring this year at Gustavus, Christ Chapel’s anniversary sticks out because of the role it has played on campus. After all, it is not solely a fifty-year milestone that we are celebrating, but fifty years of worship and tradition that has been a cornerstone to Gustavus ever since.