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Rededication ceremony for BSC’s Yeilding Chapel set for Oct. 2
Rededication ceremony for BSC’s Yeilding Chapel set for Oct. 2
For Immediate Release
Sep. 27, 2017
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Birmingham-Southern College will hold a rededication ceremony on Monday, Oct. 2, for Yeilding Chapel, celebrating the campus landmark’s 50-year anniversary.
The interfaith ceremony, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the chapel, will be led by BSC Chaplain Rev. Julie Blackwelder Holly ’01. Several of the college’s former chaplains will also participate in the rededication service, including Rev. Stewart Jackson, Rev. Jack Hinnen, and Rev. Brian Erickson ’97.
The homily will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Russell Levenson Jr. ’84, rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston—the largest Episcopal church in North America. Levenson is the author of several articles in various magazines and religious journals and four seasonal devotional books. Others making remarks will include BSC Trustee Richard Yeilding ’73 and BSC President Emeritus Dr. Neal Berte. Dr. Lester Seigel ’79, Joseph Hugh Thomas Professor of Music at BSC, will play the chapel organ.
After its construction, Yeilding Chapel was dedicated in 1967 in honor of Frank B. Yeilding ’26, founder of the former Yeilding’s department store and a 1968 BSC Distinguished Alumni Award winner who sent all six of his sons to Birmingham-Southern. The iconic round structure—highlighted by a central altar and vivid stained glass windows—serves as the center of religious life on campus, encouraging spiritual expression and development. Services are held weekly in the Chapel and reflect the diversity of the Christian tradition. It has also hosted numerous weddings and memorial services throughout the years, cementing the chapel’s significance to both the campus community and to the college’s alumni.
“Yeilding Chapel is a beautiful place of peace and comfort on our busy campus where students, staff, and guests come for both quiet personal time and to connect in community,” said Holly. “Students tell me of their late-night visits to the building, where they pray, play the piano, or meet a friend for a serious conversation.”
About Birmingham-Southern College:
Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution in Birmingham, Ala., founded in 1856 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It enrolls about 1,300 students from more than 30 states and 8 foreign countries.