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THE HILLTOP
Volume 63, Number 1
Mars Hill, North Carolina
Broyhill Chapel Dedicated
Andrea Deaton
Staff Writer
After two years of planning and fif
teen months of construction, the Broyhill
Chapel and English Prayer Garden is
complete. This nev/ structure reflects the
enthusiasm of a leirge group of people
who love cind support the college.
Four hundred and twenty three
volunteers assisted In the construction,
Including members of the student body,
the faculty and staff, residents of the
Mars Hill community and volunteers
from all over North Ccuoilna who con
trlbuted hundreds of hours of labor to
the project.
A formal dedication service was held
during the President’s Convocation ser
vice Tuesday, September 12. Members
of the Broyhill family, Mrs. English and
others were honored guests during the
ceremony. Dr. Roy J. Smith, Executive
Director of the Baptist State Convention
of North Carolina, brought the address.
He spoke of the partnership involved In
the building of the chapel and fellowship
hall, and how the completion of the com
plex was a success not only to members
of the college community, but to Chris
tlans everywhere. Dr. Smith summed up
the feelings of our Christian community
as he asked God to “take this labor of
love and the result of this partnership
and use It for His glory.” All of the con
tributors and volunteers, a vital part of
the construction, were saluted at the
dedication. The contributors euid voiun
teers will be formally recognized in a
special service on Saturday.
According to college president Dr.
Fred Bentley, “The extensive use of
volunteers has resulted not only in a
saving on the cost of the one million dol
lar facility, but it has also introduced 300
new friends to Mars Hill College. This
has brought the volunteers and the col •
lege Into a closer, bonding relationship
which will be multi generational.”
The Broyhill family, after which the
chapel was named, donated ap
proximately $350,000 to the building.
The new facility consists of two build
ings joined by covered walkways. The
area between them provides the setting
for a small prayer garden, which Is
being beautified with flowers and or
ncimental shrubs.
The east wing of the structure Is a fel
lowship hall with a Kitchen and large
area for meetings and receptions. There
are also offices for the campus minister,
a receptionist and the Christian Student
Movement
The west wing Is the sanctuary.
Before the chapel was built, services
were held in the large Moore Auditorium
which was not practical for chapel ser
vices. Now a more worshipful atmos
phere is provided by the stone and
wood frame sanctuary to which many
items have been donated.
V-
Movable chairs provide fiexibiiity m seating arrangements.
The Chapel and fellowship hall are ooen to students every day for prayer
and quiet time away from the rush anii bustle of classes.'
The doors to the entrance of the
chapel, which depict scenes from the
Old and New Testaments, were hand
carved by Dr. Bentley. The 13 X 6
wooden cross which hangs over the
main entrance to the sanctuary was
donated by the father of a student who
was killed In a boating accident while en
roiled at the college. The cross was con
structed and hung by members of the
Bentley family.
The seating for the chapel Scinctuary
consists of 325 chairs which were pur
chased by individuals in honor or in
memory of former teachers, friends, or
relatives. There is also a prayer room set
aside In the sanctuary for those who
would like to come to the chapel and
pray.
The stained glass window, pipe
organ, pulpit, pulpit Bible and com
munlon table were also donated. The
pulpit and communion table are of cher
ry wood and were made by friends of
MHC. The pulpit Bible was donated by
the Class of 1987.
Much of the chapel Is symbolic of
Mars Hill College’s commitment to be a
Christian College. The structure’s
wooden beams point up, and this draws
one’s attention heavenward. The
wooden cross at the entrance symbol
izes the dedication to Christian worship
and the redemption of Christ The wood,
stone and large windows are remiscent
of the glory and nature of the outdoors.
The stained glass window can be mean
ingfui to each individual in a different
way.
The Broyhill Chapel will be used for
services, weddings, Christian Student
Movement meetings, and music recitals.
The doors will be open Monday through
Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.