In 2013, the Royal Military College of Canada is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the two small devotional chapels in Yeo Hall, which were installed in 1963. With a view to encourage and enhance their spiritual well-being, the Protestant and Royal Catholic Chaplains, cadets and staff use the Chapels. Gifts to the chapels have been made by successive generations of cadets and ex-cadets.[1]
The Roman Catholic congregation had been meeting in Yeo Hall long before it was remodelled into a proper chapel. In 1963, the College padres, Major Johnson and Major Dufour, brought these Chapels into being. The College established the two small devotional chapels in Yeo Hall at the Royal Military College, Kingston. St. Martin's, the Protestant Chapel, which seats 70 persons, was dedicated May 26, 1963. St. Michaels' Roman Catholic Chapel, seating 110, was dedicated December 93[clarification needed], 1963.[2]
Both chapels are panelled with light coloured natural oak. St. Martin's has 6 stained glass windows, including a stained glass knight in armour, the gift of Mrs. Sutherland-Brown and a window beating the College Coat of Arms, the gift of the Kingston Branch of the RMC Club.
St. Martin's has air force blue carpeting and blue altar hangings. The Class of 1938 presented two offertory plates and alms boxes to St. Martin's Chapel.
St. Michael has 6 stained glass windows placed there by General and Mrs. McNaughton, Major-General and Mrs. Panet, Lieutenant- Colonel and Mrs. Gelley, Mrs. Macklem and the Kingston Branch of the RMC Club. The Kingston Branch contributed a stained glass window bearing the College Crest to St. Michael's Roman Catholic Chapel. At night, spotlights on the inside transmit the message of the windows to the campus.
The first baptism to take place at St. Michael's Chapel, the R.C. Chapel occurred on 15 March 1964; Major C. Beaudry, the Area Chaplain baptised Helene Louisa, the baby daughter of No. 3440, Capt. Leo LeBlanc and Mrs. LeBlanc.[3]
Mrs. C. F. Constantine, widow of No. 621, Major-General C. F. Constantine, CB, DSO, a former Commandant of R.M.C., donated in 1966 $3150.00 for religious books for the cadets and a pulpit lamp for St. Martin's Chapel.[4]
The R.M.C. Bible Study Group, which was established in 1954, received official recognition as an activity of the Recreational Club in 1958 under the guidance of Dr. D. H. Rogers and Mr. Claire Woodbury. In 1958, the monthly Supper Meeting was introduced; At the introductory supper meeting, the executive was chosen and Dr. Rogers presented on the life of Dr. H. B. Sharman, the originator of the bible study method used at RMC. The group learned more about Christianity by studying the Gospel Scriptures using the scientific approach; examining the various passages for their content and implications without the use of preconceived knowledge. The individual's concept of the Bible is given a wider scope since the various opinions of the group, who are not necessarily devout Christians, are discussed. Other supper meetings speakers included Mr. Cleo Buxton, General Secretary of the American Officers Christian Union, the Rev. Desmond Hunt of St. James Church, Kingston, the Rev. W. F. Banister, of Chalmers United Church, Kingston, and the Rev. Harry Robinson of the Church of the Redeemer in Kingston.[5]
The Officers' Christian Union, an international, nondenominational organization composed of officers from all branches of the Armed Forces, had a weekly meeting at the RMC in 1962. The RMC OCU group was led by C. P. Copeland, G. H. Black, Lt. B. Durelle and the RMC Padre, Capt. Johnson. The OCU's mission was of glorifying God and making His word better known throughout the Services by stimulating and encouraging members in prayer, Bible study and Christian witness. Regular evening meetings consisted of prayer and Bible study in an atmosphere of fellowship. During supper meetings, guest presenters gave inspiring addresses and led discussions: Reverend Putnam of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church; Rev. Robinson of the Church of the Redeemer; Mr. Tyndale, Regional Secretary for the I.V.C.F; Mr. C. W. Burton, General Secretary of the American OCU and Dr. W. R. Smith, professor of philosophy at Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota.[6]
Mission
RMCC Chaplain Services Department adhere to the direction of the Chaplain General's office; Minister to our Own, Facilitate the worship of others, Care for all. The Department shares in RMCC's intellectual life with guest speakers and forums, regular worship and seasonal celebrations. The Department provides opportunities for cadets, faculty, staff community of RMCC to explore, deepen and celebrate their faith; serve those in need; and experience a faith-based community. The Department sponsors spiritual and social justice programs, including the celebration of the sacraments, prayer services, spiritual direction, charitable, social, and educational programmes.
The chapels are classic examples of gothic revival architecture. Yeo Hall Building 32, the College's historic dining and recreation centre built in 1934-5, was recognized as a Federal Heritage Building in 1990.[7] The building is on the Registry of Historic Places of Canada.[8] Yeo Hall underwent updating and repairs in 1997 by Adamson Associates Architects. The kitchen and dining facilities were expanded, and a second floor addition provides a recreation centre. The basement, which was completely updated, includes band, medical and dental surgical facilities.[9]
Memorial Gallery
A Memorial Gallery for ex-cadets in the Services who had been killed in the line of duty was established in the corridor outside the Chapels in 1964. A number of stained glass windows were installed in the Memorial hall and at the base of the stairwell. The Class graduating in 1964 presented a stained glass window, "Cadet with Reversed Arms". The Class entering in 1934 donated a stained glass window, "Last Post", in memory of deceased classmates. The Toronto Branch of the R.M.C. Club presented a stained glass window, "RMC and Tri-Service Crests".[10]
Multifaith Programming
The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Catholic and Protestant communities normally meet during the academic year in the St-Raphael Roman Catholic chapel and Saint Martin Protestant chapel services from 1030-1130. The Muslim community normally meets for prayers in the multi-faith sacred space throughout the week from 1230 hrs to 1530 hrs.
St-Raphael chapel is a place of Catholic denomination worship for Officer cadets, personnel as well as their families. Saint Martin chapel is a place of Protestant denomination worship for Officer cadets, personnel as well as their families.
A sacred space exists to help facilitate the worship or individual reflection of cadets or staff from any (or no) faith perspective. Joanne Benham Rennick writes in `Religion in the Canadian Military: Adapting to an Increasingly Pluralistic Society,` "Public rituals, such as Remembrance Day services, are to be as inclusive as possible and, in recent events, such as the ceremony of the Consecration of the Colours at the Royal Military College in Kingston, the Chaplain General invited members of the Buddhist, Hindu, First Nations, Jewish, and Muslim communities to participate as guests" (DND, 2001a, 2007b; Gorniak, 2001). She goes on to explain "At the Royal Military College in Kingston, chaplains have responded to growing numbers of Muslim personnel by installing a curtain in the Christian chapel to create a mutil faith prayer room. Further, the RMCC chaplain arranged for the installation of footbaths in the washrooms to facilitate ablutions." (Benham Rennick, 2006). In 2002, officer cadets at RMCC held their first-ever official multifaith religious service. At RMCC, the chaplains installed a folding wall to separate the Christian aspects of the room (statues, a lectern, a cross, etc.) from a section containing no imagery for the purposes of prayer/reflection for individuals of a variety of faith perspectives.[11]
The chaplains continue to work with the students and staff at the college to accommodate people of various faith traditions and make their stay at RMCC more pleasant.
Copper Sunday
In a tradition known as Copper Sunday dating to 1882, Officer cadets attend various Kingston churches on the last Sunday of the academic year. While RMCC does not to influence cadets toward any particular religion, the goal is to expose the cadets to the typical processes and procedures of religious ceremony, should they need to carry out Assisting Officer duties in the future. The name comes from the custom of cadets gathering their pennies for collection into the offering plate.
Following naval tradition, a ship's bell (from the Royal Roads Military College) is used as a baptism font in the college chapel and the names of those baptised are later inscribed on the bell.
Library
The Chapels` library in Yeo Hall contains books on a variety of subjects in Arabic, English, French and Hebrew intended to be used by people of all faiths. As future officers in the Canadian Forces, RMCC students must be well educated about different religions, given that most peacekeeping operations are overseas.
Stained Glass
Robert McCausland Limited: Artists and Craftsmen of Stained Glass since 1856 created a number of stained glass windows in the chapels of the Royal Military College of Canada.
CNO. 2664, Lt.-Col. J. A. Hilliard, C.D., organizer, To the memory of the class entering in 1938 who gave their lives for Canada.
Roman Catholic Chapel
1963
1 light Emblem lilies and M
Robert McCausland Limited
General and Mrs. A. G. L. McNaughton, in memory of their son, No. 2588, S/L. Ian G.A. McNaughton, R.C.A.F., Born 6 Nov. 1919 who was killed in action over Germany 22 June 1942 R.I.P.
Roman Catholic Chapel
1963
1 light Alpha Omega Bible and Torch
Donated by Mrs. Katherine (Kit) Macklem, in memory of her husband, No. 605, Professor Oliver Tiffany Macklem, and of her father, No. 203, Colonel C. William Bermingham
Roman Catholic Chapel
1 light Dove
Donated by No. 499, Major-General Edouard de B. Panet and Mrs. Marguerite Panet
Roman Catholic Chapel
1 light Chalice and wheat
Donated by No H6888, Lt.-Col. Thomas Fraser Gelley M.A.,LL.D member of faculty, 1919-1963 and Mrs. Gelley
Roman Catholic Chapel
1963
1 light Alpha Omega Bible and Torch
Donated by Mrs. Oliver Tiffany (Kit) Macklem in memory of her husband no. 605 Oliver Tiffany, and her father no. 203 William Bermingham
Protestant Chapel
1963
1 light Royal Military College Crest
Robert McCausland Limited
The Kingston Branch of the RMC Club No. 2770, Major K. I. Jefferson, C.D., President, a window showing the full College coat of arms, 26 May 1963.
Protestant Chapel
1963
1 light Royal Military College Crest
Robert McCausland Limited
Donated by the Kingston branch of the Royal Military College Club of Canada, May 1963.
Protestant Chapel
1963
1 light Timothy
Robert McCausland Limited
Mrs. Sutherland-Brown donated a window in memory of her son, No. 2609, FXO. Ian Macdonell Sutherland-Brown, who was killed in an airplane accident near Mt. McDougall, Alta, on 14 August 1941.
Inscription:“put on the whole armour of god.” In loving memory of no. 2609 Flight Lieutenant Ian Macdonnell Sutherland-Brown.
Protestant Chapel
1963
1 light Dove
Robert McCausland Limited
In memory of 4482 Squadron Leader Donald Eaton Galloway Class of 1959
Protestant Chapel
1963
1 light open book
Robert McCausland Limited
In memory of 6229 Lieutenant John Carson first to leave the Class of 64.
Protestant Chapel
1963
1 light lamb of God
Robert McCausland Limited
I thank all who loved me in their hearts with love and thanks from mine. 1900 Group Captain Douglas Edwards
Protestant Chapel
1963
1 light chalice
Robert McCausland Limited
In memory of 10557 Lieutenant Kris K. Gammeljord Class of 1975
Yeo Hall, Memorial Hall outside chapels
1964
1 light Cadet resting on arms reversed
Robert McCausland Limited
Presented by the graduating class 29 May 1964
Yeo Hall, landing of the main staircase leading to Memorial Hall outside chapels
1964
1 light "RMC and Tri-Service Crests"
Robert McCausland Limited
inscription: "Who would true valour see, let him come hither" Presented by Toronto branch R.M.C. Club of Canada 1964 [12]
Yeo Hall, Memorial Hall outside chapels
1934
1 light Last Post
Robert McCausland Limited
Presented by the class entering RMC in 1934 as a memorial to fallen classmates
Yeo Hall, Memorial Hall outside chapels
1964
1 light Cadet with Reversed Arms
Robert McCausland Limited
Presented by the graduating class 29 May 1964
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Kingston, Ontario)
1 light Antique window RMC crest and motto
*Royal Military College of Canada stained glass window
Commemorative plaques
Description
Inscription
Donor
Captain Edward R. Bade 1946-1973 lost in air rescue.
9289 Captain BB Reid killed in aircraft accident at Nellis Air Force Base USA 21 February 1979
presented by his parents 23 November 1980
Commemorative paintings
There are four commemorative paintings of cadets presented by the Jablonowsli family in memory of the four Mackenzie flight cadets, who died in a Cessna plane crash on 24 January 1988. The cadets, who had pilot’s licenses, needed to fly regularly to keep up their quota of hours: Ocdt. Scott McMonagle; Ocdt. Dan Richardson; Ocdt. Ray Koebel; Ocdt. Frank Joseph Jablonowski.
Kingston Churches
Bag piper, Padre, Currie Hall, Royal Military College of Canada
For many years Royal Military College cadets and other military groups have marched into local churches such as St. George's Cathedral (Kingston, Ontario) for worship on special occasions. A virtual tour the Royal Military College gallery at the Cathedral Church of St. George features stained glass windows of soldier saints including St. George. The most recent windows—the St. Cecilia window and the St. Margaret window—also in the RMC gallery, were installed in 2002 and 2003 respectively.[13]
Related Research Articles
The Royal Military College of Canada, abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a military academy and, since 1959, a degree-granting university of the Canadian Armed Forces. It was established in 1874 and conducted its first classes on June 1, 1876. The Government of Ontario empowered RMC to confer degrees in the Social Sciences and Humanities, Science, and Engineering through The Royal Military College of Canada Degrees Act, 1959. Programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, both on campus as well as through the college's distance learning programme via the Division of Continuing Studies.
The Royal Military College Saint-Jean, commonly referred to as RMC Saint-Jean and CMR, is a Canadian military college and university. It is located on the historical site of Fort Saint-Jean, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, 40 km south of Montreal. RMC Saint-Jean is an arm of the Canadian Military College (CMC) system that provides two college-level programs in Social Science and Science, which are closely integrated with the undergraduate programs offered by the Royal Military College of Canada. RMC Saint-Jean was granted independent university status in 2021, and it currently offers a bachelor's degree in International Studies.
Colin William George Gibson was a Canadian politician, land surveyor and lawyer.
Lieutenant General John Carl Murchie was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from December 27, 1943, until August 21, 1945.
Major-General Thomas Victor Anderson DSO, CD was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 21 November 1938 until 6 July 1940.
The Navy League Cadet Corps was created by the Navy League of Canada for boys in 1948, and the Navy League Wrennette Corps was formed for girls in 1950. The Wrennette program no longer exists, since the Navy League Cadet Corps are now open to boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 12.
The Navy League Wrennette Corps was formed by the Navy League of Canada in 1950 as a cadet organisation for girls to complement the Navy League Cadet Corps of Canada.
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Brigadier General Douglas Gordon Cunningham, was a Canadian lawyer and soldier.
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The Royal Military College of Canada Museum, established in 1962, is located in a Martello tower known as Fort Frederick on the campus of the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and is operated by the college. Until 2016 the museum had regular hours from the last weekend in June until Labour Day. Although admission was free, donations were accepted. Guided tours were offered in English and French. Genealogical research and archival records services were offered relating to college history or with inquires relating to ex-cadets when permitted by privacy regulations.
Currie Hall is a hall within the Currie Building, which is an annex to the Mackenzie Building at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. It was built in 1922, and is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building.
The Royal Military College of Canada Bands is the official group of bands of the Royal Military College of Canada. The group is composed of four sections: the brass and reed, the pipes and drums, highland dancers, and choristers. Total band membership consists of 105 Officer Cadets from the college. Officer Cadets in the band practice three days a week in the morning on top of attending their individual full-time university programs.
H16511 Dr. Richard Arthur Preston "To Serve Canada: A History of the Royal Military College of Canada" 1997 Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 1969.
H16511 Dr. Richard Arthur Preston "Canada's RMC— A History of Royal Military College" Second Edition 1982 H16511
Dr. Richard Preston "R.M.C. and Kingston: The effect of imperial and military influences on a Canadian community" 1968
William Closson James "God's Plenty: Religious Diversity in Kingston" (McGill-Queen's Press, Sep 20, 2011)
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