Wing chapels at Patrick Henry College – A Priority

What’s a wing chapel? (Continued)  

Last week I begin to explain What’s a wing chapel.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the students get together in groups. Each hallway in a dorm at Patrick Henry College is called a wing. At the helm of the wing is the RA or Resident Assistant. These students are there to make sure the students of that particular selection of rooms is surviving and thriving, and preferably the latter of those two. The RA’s are in charge of leading these wing chapels.

Like the student wide-gatherings, these smaller chapels at Patrick Henry College last about forty minutes and generally feature whatever material the RA’s have decided upon. 

 

One of my personal favorite wing-chapel ideas was to read the Screw Tape Letters by C.S. Lewis on how the enemy tempts young Christians. It was rather out of the box, but still very grounded in scripture and spurred a good deal of conversation.

In the past students have read other books by C.S. Lewis, had Bible-studies, prayer groups, and many other ideas. It’s really up to the wing itself how best to pursue their spiritual life alongside their peers.

Wing chapel in the school year

Wing Chapel is a priority at Patrick Henry College. While many students can sometimes find themselves wishing they had just a few more hours in bed instead of a Bible-study, the faculty sincerely believes that every student has to make fellowship with other believers—specifically in a Bible-study context—a regular practice of life at Patrick Henry College.

To encourage participation and continued attendance, students often cover themes or topics in a series. This might include a study of a certain book of the body like a Gospel or an Epistle. Sometimes it’s true that students attempt to bite off more than they can chew. Some subjects, like the mysteries of Revelations, are simply not bible-study material. 

That being said, the administration places great emphasis on students choosing the subject of their study. Additionally, students may request faculty involvement. While the professors at Patrick Henry College don’t have the time to routinely attend wing chapels, the student body is small enough that they can pop in once in a while to contribute their experience and wisdom. It’s not terribly uncommon to see Dr. Darrel Cox, the professor of Theology at Patrick Henry College, to attend wing chapels. He in particular is deeply vested in the spiritual growth of the students around him and does whatever he can to make sure they have the resources they need.

Author Bio

Leo Briceno is currently studying Political Journalism at Patrick Henry College; a classical Christian liberal arts college in Purcellville, Virginia. Leo has grown up in Norther Virginia and after graduation, plans to stay in the area to work in the news industry in Washington D.C.