School Chapel Services
Before email and campus alert systems, how did faculty and staff share important information with the entire student body? Sometimes, the easiest way to share information is through a meeting. Early Shippensburg students were required to go to chapel services daily, then later weekly, in order to both participate in religious activities, and hear updates and announcements.
In addition, students at Shippensburg until the 1930s did not have the flexibility to choose whether or not to attend church, let alone practice a non-Christian faith, and were required to attend weekly religious services in addition to the daily chapel services, or face academic troubles.
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| This page from the 1889-1890 Cumberland Valley State Normal School catalog says students were required to attend a church of their choice weekly in Shippensburg. |
Students in the late 1880s were required to attend church services in Shippensburg weekly, unless they were excused by the principal. Additionally, Sunday school was organized each week, and prayer meetings were held each Wednesday night. Those activities were voluntary, but students were required in the 1890s to attend chapel services each morning at 8:45 a.m.
By 1897, the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A were on campus and met weekly to discuss topics of interest to Christians and hold Bible studies.
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In 1916-1917, the student handbook published a list of Shippensburg churches. The practice continued for decades.
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Through the early 1930s, chapel attendance and weekly church attendance continued to be required of students. Failure to attend could hurt one's academic standing as faculty kept track of attendance.
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| Mr. Buckalow was issued a warning in 1913 when he failed to attend church regularly. |
Chapel meetings were used for communication, but also involved faith-based activities. In 1927, daily meetings were abolished and instead, attendance was expected Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additionally, the time became later in the morning each year.
The school issued schedules each semester with chapel activities to expect:
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| The fall 1931 chapel schedule. |
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| The spring 1942 chapel schedule |
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| The fall 1945 chapel schedule. By this time, meetings were held weekly. |
By the 1933-34 academic year, the school abolished the requirement to attend church services in Shippensburg each week though it was still strongly suggested. As the school's identity as a state institution deepened in the early decades of the 20th century, the school moved farther away from requiring religious practice.
However, as late as 1960, the student catalog continued to urge attendance at weekly services in Shippensburg. In addition to publishing a list of churches in the student handbook, a number of campus religious groups were listed accommodating students of a variety of Christian traditions.
Today Shippensburg University experiences a vibrant faith community with beliefs and non-beliefs of all kinds represented across the student body, in formal campus ministry activities, and student-run clubs and organizations. Students in 2017 are fortunate their participation does not affect their academic standing!
Sources
Catalogs, 1889-1890, 1897-1898, 1927-1928, 1933-1934,1934-1935, 1960-1961. Shippensburg, PA: Cumberland Valley Normal School and Shippensburg State Teachers College.
Class files, 1913, 1931, 1942 and 1946. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.
Student handbook, 1916-1917, 1960-1961 Shippensburg, PA: Cumberland Valley State Normal School, 1916.
