Turner Chapel: Behind every building is a story
C.J. Eldridge, Staff Writer
Through all the changes over the decades on NGU’s campus, Turner Chapel has remained, granting a location for worship, music productions, plays and much more.
It has received a facelift since its construction in 1958, but aerial shots from 1960 show it is very much the same building. Some additions have also been made. The university has grown substantially since then, and yet the chapel still remains.
This place of worship has stood the test of time, providing countless students a place to give thanks to God through music, lectures and sermons. The history that flows through a location like this, one that has held numerous speakers from all over, is substantial.
Turner Chapel is the physical embodiment of NGU’s mission to “glorify God by cultivating graduates who are equipped to serve as transformational leaders for church and society.”
While there are some buildings that people may never go in, everyone has stepped foot into the chapel. It’s a place of unification, a place to show that most who go to North Greenville stand to further the will of God.
The book of Hebrews gives more insight into this: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.”
Having a sense of community and a place to worship with others is crucial, granting an opportunity to respond to scripture and prayer.
According to “History of North Greenville Junior College,” Turner Chapel was originally constructed because of the rapid growth of the student body and because of a quickly growing music department. It was finished on May 1, 1958.
The building was dedicated on Founders’ Day 1961 to Richard Perry Turner, a wholesale merchant who served on the board of trustees for 25 years. Before his death, he was named a “life-time member of the board.”
Turner donated money and supplies to the school for over thirty years. These donations were one of the reasons NGU was able to stay afloat during its hardest times in history. He also donated an Allen Organ to the auditorium.
Turner would even go so far as to sign notes personally. This goes to show that even the chapel’s name carries with it a rich history. Richard Turner exemplified the kind of selflessness that God intends for His people to embody.
Turner Chapel will continue to help current and future generations of students thrive in their walk with the Lord as they attend North Greenville University.
