Chaplain/'s Message

Chaplain's Message...

Welcome to St. Alban's Chapel!

St. Alban's was the first Episcopal Chapel to be built on a state university campus. In 1928, Huey P. Long signed our ninety-nine year lease ($10.00 per year). Under the terms of that lease, St. Alban's Chapel cannot operate on any basis except that of ministering to the students. For eighty-two years, this congregation has joyfully pursued that mission of hospitality to the students, faculty, and staff of Louisiana State University.

A lot has changed since 1928. In the church documents of that day, the students here were called “boys and girls”. The “student vestry” was made up entirely of young men wearing dark suits and thin ties (see the photo in the Common Hall). In 1931, the Rev. J. S. Ditchburn, our first chaplain, wrote, “To build a building on a campus, no matter how attractive, does not mean that students are thereby going to be won for Christ and His Church. There is no building or any other physical means of winning people. . . . God gives the pastor these young people, and he must get to know them. Get out to some games and some pep meetings.” What would Mr. Ditchburn think to the see the LSU students of 2010 texting while on their way to a football game or “pep meeting”?! A lot has changed.

Still, much remains unchanged. For almost eight decades, Christians have worshipped in our chapel on Sunday mornings and evenings. Season after season, the sanctuary has remained open 24/7 to receive anyone who needs a place to sit and pray. This congregation has provided countless meals and cared for the students of LSU in a wide variety of creative ways. Year after year, the scriptures have been preached, the sacraments administered, and the Christian faith lived in this university setting.

Terry Holmes (chaplain from 1949 – 1956) wrote that the Episcopal Church at LSU is not this building on the corner of Highland and Dalrymple. He said that it is not the chaplains who serve here, nor is it any kind of organization. Holmes wrote, “The Episcopal Church at LSU is the Christian student, staff member or faculty member, committed to an understanding of life as shown by God in Christ. A university is a part of life, and so he sees himself living in the university community in terms of what he believes about life as a member of Christ . . . . It is the person who believes that the university is part of God’s world and lives right in the midst of it, totally committed to it as he is totally committed to Christ . . . . He is a Christian interpreting his life in LSU in terms of the Christian man.”

As the current chaplain here, I cannot imagine a more exciting place to live one’s life in Christ, as Holmes wrote. So I invite you to become a part of the wonderful history of God’s work on this campus!

Again, welcome to LSU and to St. Alban’s Chapel!

The Rev. Andrew S. Rollins

Chaplain

The Rollins Family (L-R) John, Jeanie, Helen, Catherine, Fr. Drew, David and Maggie