Keele Chapel celebrates 60th anniversary of Royal dedication

Today marks 60 years since the Chapel at Keele University was officially dedicated in the presence of the Royal Family - a proud milestone in the University's history.

With the campus blanketed in snow, the 1965 dedication ceremony drew hundreds of attendees, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, her daughter and Keele's then Chancellor Princess Margaret, and representatives from the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Free Churches.

Before the service, Princess Margaret presented her mother - who had officially opened the University in 1951 - with an honorary Degree of Letters in a packed ceremony at Walter Moberly Hall, which was recorded by British Pathe.

The Chapel was the first religious building in the country designed specifically for shared Christian worship, marking a landmark step toward greater unity among denominations. Before its construction, services were held in a temporary hut, though Keele's Founding Principal, Lord Lindsay, had always envisioned a permanent, multi-denominational chapel at the heart of campus.

Architect George Pace was appointed in 1958, guided by a 13-point statement developed by representatives from across Europe and the USA at the World Council of Churches. Construction began in 1959 and continued until 1965, funded by the generosity of thousands of donors. Early sketches imagined a sandstone building, but a gift from the Berry Hill Brick Company led to the Chapel’s distinctive Staffordshire blue-brick design.

Stretching 136 feet and illuminated by more than 300 windows, the Chapel was built for shared worship, featuring a central altar open to all denominations. Two smaller side chapels - one for Roman Catholic services and one for Free Church Communion - were constructed at 45-degree angles, separated by a 6.5-tonne retractable soundproof screen that allowed simultaneous services, reflecting Keele's commitment to innovation and unity.

Now a Grade II Listed building (designated by English Heritage in 1998), the Chapel initially sparked mixed reactions - admired by some and criticised by others for its bold modernism.

The original cost estimate was £60,000 (just over £1 million today), raised through a major appeal that included £20,000 from the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Free Churches, and nearly 2,000 smaller contributions from individuals, organisations, and local businesses. Rising costs and the need for furnishings eventually pushed the total to £111,000 (around £1.9 million today). At one point, the University even appealed directly to students' parents for support.

Historian John Kolbert later wrote that the Chapel "could never have been built had it not been for the strenuous efforts of the Principals and Appeal Committee, the support of all denominations, and the generosity of local industry and donors."

Today, Keele Chapel remains a Local Ecumenical Partnership (L.E.P.), representing five major Christian denominations - Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, and United Reformed. It holds two services on Sundays, and the university has a full-time Chaplaincy team, including a Muslim Chaplain, who serve staff and students of all faiths and none.

Alongside being the venue for graduation ceremonies and musical concerts, the Chapel hosts multi-faith events such as the Langar and Grand Iftar, and serves as a space for worship, reflection, and community. It holds a small number of baptisms, weddings, and funerals each year.

"The Chapel is open all week as a peaceful place to pause," said Lay Catholic Chaplain Niall Hammond.

"Students often come for quiet prayer, to light a candle, or simply to share tea and coffee - it's become a real home away from home for a lot of them."