The Chapel and religion

The Churchill College position on religion.

The majority of the Colleges of the University of Cambridge are religious foundations; at least that is how they originated. Many of them demonstrate that in their names (Christ's, Jesus, St John's, Trinity, Magdalene, Corpus Christi, and so on), and in the fact than many of their formal ceremonies take place in their chapels. Churchill is not like that. We were founded without any specific religious mission, and the Chapel at Churchill College was not part of the original foundation of the College. Churchill is a tolerant College, where people of all religions, and of none, can feel at home, and will find others of similar persuasions.

The Chapel at Churchill

The Chapel is not formally part of the College. It is administered by a Chapel Trust; the Trustees include several Fellows of the College, two being appointed on the recommendation of the College Council. Reverend Dr John Rawlinson is the part-time Chaplain. He is not resident in Cambridge but may be contacted by email at jr338@cam.ac.uk. The chapel is inter-denominational and the services draw from the richness of the various traditions of worship within the Church, but are not confined to them. They often include choral music (see this term's music list) performed by a choir under the direction of the Organ Bursar, who is a student who is also paid to play the organ. Baptisms, marriages and funerals/memorial services are also conducted in the Chapel.

The Chapel is located at the west end of the College site and was built in the early 1970's to an exciting design in harmony with the earlier College buildings. There are some fine modern stained glass windows.

The Chapel has its own website at: http://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/societies/chapel/