Among the many different unique locations, A.H. Reid Chapel is a well-known landmark on Samford’s campus.
On Sept. 1, 1960, the construction of the chapel was completed and was known as a reflection of history as well as the start of a new era as the newest church in Homewood, Alabama.
The steeple of Reid Chapel was created to look like that of the first Baptist church in America that was built in 1775 in Providence, Rhode Island.
According to the University Library’s Special Collection Treasures, the stain glass that lines the walls of the chapel also have their own history. These panels were made in Germany and add an “antique finish”.
Considering the rich history of the chapel as well as the many memories made in that room after its completion, including alumni weddings, Reid Chapel has become a landmark for all of Samford.
Reid Chapel not only offers a place for students to come and worship, but also to create community centered around their faith.
Junior Claire Gann experienced many spontaneous worship nights during her freshman year and also participated in events with Samford’s Acapella Choir that took place in the chapel.
“It’s really cool because it’s good for professional events for school but also to just come in here and hang out with friends and worship,” said Gann.
Senior Avery Kennedy had a similar experience to Gann and spent time in Reid Chapel during her freshman year especially.
“I feel like freshman year it was a great place to come and meet people, and it was a place that I had access to an instrument, which I didn’t in my dorm,” said Kennedy.
Freshman Reagan Edwards enjoys spending her time in here every Monday for her practices with Samford’s Women of Worship ensemble.
“I think it’s so beautiful, because the acoustics in here are just amazing and also the community that we find in Reid Chapel is just so beautiful and it’s a gift from God,” said Edwards.
Junior JT Dawson also has an extreme love for Reid Chapel and believes he has spent hundreds of hours in there across his time at Samford.
Growing up, Dawson would play the piano, but he said that he was not proficient until he came to Samford and practiced on the piano in the chapel.
“When I walked in and saw that there was an open piano and a beautiful auditorium with amazing acoustics, I would just go and sit down and play,” said Dawson.
The piano was a huge part of his experience in Reid Chapel. When it was locked during last school year, it changed his experience to a degree.
“As weird as it sounds, it legitimately hurt my sophomore year experience. I would go, and I can bring my guitar in there, and I still did,” said Dawson. “But going in there and not having access to the piano killed me.”
When the piano reopened recently, that greatly improved his time in the chapel, and he spoke often of his desire to have worship nights in that space that shaped so much of his Samford experience.
Dawson also described the unique feeling of the manifest presence of God in that space at all times.
“I’ll just spend hours in there, just worshiping, and talking to God, or writing music, and listening to him, and I don’t get that in a lot of other places,” said Dawson.
The testimonies of Dawson, Edwards, Kennedy and Gann are just a few among many students who have experienced the impact that Reid Chapel and what having access to it has done for their faith walks at Samford.
The historic Reid Chapel is not only a landmark in Samford’s past, but a place where communities are built, and the Lord is praised.
Arts & Life Editor
