St. Joseph's Chapel: Frontal Dedication

On the evening of Thursday, October 12, 2006, a new frontal, designed in celebration of Kent School's Centennial, was dedicated.

Fr. Schell began the service with a brief history of the chapels at Kent. He quoted from Kent's founder, Frederick Herbert Sill:

"From the start the altar has been the center of School life. The altar was first in an upper hallway. Then in a reconstructed woodshed. Then in a frame building ... and in the Spring of 1931 we saw a wonderful and very beautiful Chapel erected for God's honor and glory ..."

Fr. Schell then told the congregation how the first altar was removed and another put in its place. This second altar is the one now in St. Joseph's and was given by alumni of the School in memory of their friends and classmates who had died in World War II. This altar was dedicated on June 3, 1948.


Second altar: The translation of the Latin inscription carved along the sides of the table is: "To the Most High God the Alumni who have gone out from this place have dedicated this altar in loving memory of their fellow students who gave their lives freely for their country, 1941 -- 1945."

Anticipating Kent School's Centennial, Joan Beattie and Marel Rogers worked with Bryan Marshall of J. Wippell & Co. to design a frontal for St. Joseph's. During Mr Marshall’s visit he heard the history of St. Joseph's and of the Girls' School chapel, St. Mark's. He then took measurements, noted the colors of the windows and the proportions of the sanctuary and chancel, and in a few weeks sent this sketch.

Mr. Marshall wrote: "..[I enclose] senior artist Gerald Millers' proposed design ...You will see that he has developed the symbolism of both St. Mark and St. Joseph. The lion is shown purposely fearsome as would be appropriate for a heraldic lion. St. Joseph's attributes being the fruitful bough and dove that was released. Also the sheaf of corn [wheat here in the U.S.] The "Chi Rho" is also included.”

The frontal arrived in June. The St. Margaret fabric is a combination of cloth of gold and blue orphreys. The embroidery and appliqués are on a four-sided Laudian style frontal, edged with a blue and gold diced braid. The aumbry veil is made from the same material as the lion.

In his book describing St. Joseph's Chapel, Father Sill urged all who visited the Chapel to say a prayer:

"Oh God, we pray Thee to bless all those who have gone forth from this school. Strengthen them in time of temptation; be ever near them to comfort and support them; and grant that in all they think or do or say they may live as in Thy sight and service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

May this new frontal be a sign of that sight and service.
Sketch of proposed frontal design

St. Joseph's Chapel