Wiles Chapel is many things to the Newberry College community. A place of spiritual renewal. A place of fellowship. A place of quiet reflection. Whatever it means to our readers, it is certainly a special place. Since its dedication in 1967, Wiles Chapel has been a fixture for the college and the Newberry community.
Wiles Chapel is a historic chapel located on the campus of Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina. It was named in honor of Dr. James Wiles, who served as the college's president from 1908 to 1925.
The chapel was originally located in Holland Hall, a part of the campus since 1904. The building’s former auditorium was the designated space for the chapel. However, the chapel was eventually granted its own space. Under designer Harold Wagon, Wiles Chapel came to be.
Wiles Chapel was named for the 11th president of the college, Dr. A.G.D. Wiles. Dr. Wiles was sworn in on April 26, 1961, after taking the position on the previous fall. The inauguration was a big deal on campus, with representatives from the church, community, and state being in attendance. Dr. Fred E. Dufford, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, presided over the ceremony. In his inauguration speech, Dr. Wiles pointed out what the college should aim to do as a religious institution and a teacher of the liberal arts. He outlined how the college could help students grow and prepare for citizenship. The day was wrapped up in celebration at the President’s home.
On May 11, 1965, plans were approved, and funding began to get under way for the new building. At the time, the nave of the chapel was to hold 1,200 people. There were also plans for a theatre and a mezzanine to provide rehearsal space, a lounge, an office for the chaplain, and many other features. Students today will recognize this theatre as Wiles Theatre, which hosts plays throughout the year. The design was described as “modified modern,” which allowed the building a place with both old and new structures. A fundraising campaign took place, which eventually went out of state to procure the needed money for the building. The fundraising campaign served as a way to honor the memory of loved ones and support the college’s theatre.
The chapel was officially dedicated on April 30, 1967. The Rev. Dr. Fred E. Dufford was the speaker, entitling the dedication sermon “A Tent for The Body and a temple for the Soul.” He made the overall goals of the chapel about bringing students closer to God, calling the chapel “a ‘place for our youth [to] come alive to God – alive to one’s higher self and alive to the needs and claims of others.’” Many important figures in the church were present, including the presidents of the three synods of the Lutheran Church in America and the president of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. The chaplain Reverend Harry Weber served as the officiator of the ceremony.
Wiles Chapel is the site of weekly chapel services for Newberry College. A service is held each Wednesday of the academic term and each one runs for 40 minutes. This allows the college community to spend time with God and in fellowship with each other. In addition to chapel services, Wiles also houses many other events for the college and surrounding community, such as concerts, speaking engagements, graduation ceremonies, etc.
Wiles has also undergone renovations in recent years. In December 2021, the first December graduation in 2 years was held in the chapel, as the building had been undergoing renovations in 2020 and in the early part of 2021.
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Works Cited:
A.G.D. Wiles Inauguration, ALUMNI BULLETIN V11 N2 May 1961.pdf ‘Do what you love:’ Newberry College holds fall commencement | Newberry Observer NBY Historic College Street District (1).pdf
“SC Historic Properties Record - South Carolina.” South Carolina Department of Collective Archives History, Collective Access, 2015, https://schpr.sc.gov/index.php.
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Wiles Chapel, NC MAG V15 N3 Spring 1965.pdf
Wiles Chapel, NC MAG V16 N1 Fall 1965.pdf
Wiles Chapel Dedication, NC MAG V18 N3 Summer 1967.pdf
***A special thanks to Dr. Tracy Power for providing sources.***
