Robert Carr Chapel (TCU) is a building dedicated to religious activities on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. It was gifted to the University by Robert G. Carr, a San Angelo oilman and rancher who sat on the board of trustees for 23 years. The building opened in May of 1953 under the administration of M.E. Sadler, and the first formal university-wide chapel service was conducted on September 21st, 1953 (7). Each year, approximately 15,000 guests come through the chapel doors for several events such as services, events, weddings, or merely to observe and reflect (3). Originally associated with the Disciples of Christ (a branch of the Christian Church), the chapel is now home to an array of events held by different student organizations on campus (8). The unique architecture and instruments are distinguishing features of the chapel compared to other buildings on campus. The spire of the chapel serves as the highest point on campus, despite the great heights of the Brown Lupton University Union tower and the Amon G. Carter stadium, which was built below ground level in order to maintain the chapel as the highest (6). 

Robert Carr Chapel

Location                 Texas Christian University 
Address                   2855 South University Drive
                                      Fort Worth, Texas 76129 
Affiliation               Associated with the Christian Church      
                                             (Disciples of Christ)
Minister to the 
University               Rev. Angela Kaufman 
Website                   https://chapel.tcu.edu 

Architecture

The construction of a chapel was necessary to serve the ever-increasing development of religious leadership occurring on TCU's campus pre-1953. With an undergraduate population of 1,200 students in the Department of Religion and only one small chapel inside of the Brite College of the Bible building, the space was inadequate and called for a permanent solution. It was cited that students would be pouring out into the hallways daily, and that such a building was never meant to be a permanent place of study and worship (7).
  
Designed by architect Joseph R. Pelich and Mrs. Frances Sadler (the school's President of the time's wife), Robert Carr Chapel reflects the style of American Colonial Churches. Inspired by many churches that are located along the East coast of the U.S., the chapel models such style, and contains an exact 137-foot spire replica of a separate spire atop Old Lyme Church located in Old Lyme, Connecticut (6). The stone columns, brass chandeliers, Palladian windows and chancel with a classical design are all other elements which reflect such a mirror in style (3).  

The Robert Carr chapel now sits aside the Mary Courts Burnett library opposite of the Winton Scott and Sid Richardson science buildings. This was purposely done so that the library may serve as a mediator between the religious buildings and sciences buildings to provide a common source of knowledge (7).  This deliberate planning is not a new occurrence for TCU. Ever since the move from Waco to Fort Worth, every part of campus has been organized in such a way that the university still has flexibility to expand and renovate on a small plot of land. ​

With the largest carillon west of the Mississippi in 1960, the chapel brought in many visitors from around Texas, and surrounding states. The building is able to comfortably hold approximately 300 people total (7). There is also an enclosed walkway that runs along both sides to the back of the chapel into both the Brite Divinity School and Beasely Hall.  
Old Lyme Church, located in Connecticut reflects the design style of Robert Carr Chapel
​Taken from Connecticut Conference UCC website
Construction of the spire
Taken from TCU Digital Repository
Newly finished Carr Chapel, Brite Divinity School, and Beasley Hall
Taken from TCU Digital Repository
​The Chapel is also one of the few buildings on campus that does not feature the traditional brick seen on campus known as "TCU Buff". Rather, the selection of masonry color was chosen by architects as a more appropriate color for a chapel that would still harmonize with other buildings on campus (6). Traditionalists were outraged by this selection, calling on M.E. Sadler to make a statement in defense of the selection. ​

Renovation

In 1983, the "largest carillon west of the Mississippi" was replaced by one built by Verdin, a Cincinnati-based company, to play the TCU alma mater song on the hour. The chapel underwent a major renovation once in 2016 for three primary functions: to make it more accessible, useable for multiple religions, and concurrent with the spirit of TCU. Such goals were obtained through new paint, flooring and an audiovisual system. The pews were restored, the organ was digitalized and now mobile, and there was an addition of a piano, as well (3).  

Religious Foundation

Texas Christian University was established to provide a strong, lasting institution dedicated to education within the context of a Christian way of life, believing that enlightenment was the sure way to salvation (6). In 1889, AddRan College (former name of the university) came under the ownership and control of the Christian Churches of Texas thus adding the word Christian to the title (2). While TCU still holds the word Christian in its name, this has little effect on a student’s personal life. A frequently asked question from prospective students and parents is, “How Christian is TCU?” Students have the freedom to make the C as big or little as they wish it to be. 
​
The chapel is the campus center for spiritual life and activities. Although the university has ties to the Disciples of Christ denomination, it is not imposed upon students and faculty. The chapel is an open space available for anyone to use for the respective beliefs and practices (8). While the university is no longer closely tied to the Christian religion, the Disciples of Christ value of open-mindedness and acceptance is still embedded in the community’s culture. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life helps students get connected on campus and supports individual spiritual growth. 

Weddings

There is rarely a weekend on which a wedding cannot be evidenced in Robert Carr Chapel. With so many young couples that meet at TCU, such couples often choose to celebrate their love on the campus on which they found it. It is not necessary to have any connection to the university in order to have a wedding there; however, most couples tend to have at least one partner who has some sort of connection to the chapel, university, or Fort Worth area (8).
Wedding held at Robert Carr Chapel
The chapel wasn't a destination for weddings in the early years of its existence. Robert Carr initially believed that the chapel was too much of a sacred place for there to be any type of rehearsal or practices because they would not be "divine" enough. Since weddings must be rehearsed, it wasn't an option for couples. M.E. Sadler eventually convinced Carr that rehearsals and practices were necessary for any event that wanted to use the chapel. Another problem that early couples faced was simply booking a date. At that time, there wasn't a position within the management of the chapel that dealt with bookings so they were under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Dean of Brite Divinity School. "She only booked things when she felt like it," recalled organist Dr. Emmet Smith (9).

Currently, about one hundred weddings are held on campus each year and it is typical to book approximately twelve to eighteen months in advance (8). The service can cost anywhere from $900-$1,700 depending on whether or not there is a connection to the TCU community and what day/time is desired. There is also the opportunity to have a reception on campus in the Amon G. Carter Stadium Champions Club for $15,000 if there is a tie to a donor or alumni. If the wedding is scheduled to take place on a day that coincides with a Horned Frogs football game, it is required to rent out the parking lot near the chapel as well (3).
​
Robert Carr Chapel was also nominated for six years in a row "as a top wedding venue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area" by the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (3). Even the wedding of Betty Buckley (Tony Award winning actress), was held in the Robert Carr Chapel (10). 

Organist Dr. Emmet Smith

When the chapel opened in 1953, Dr. Emmet Smith, the university organist, played the pipes. He and his wife, Judy, became very well-known figures within the community because of the time they served as integral parts of the chapel’s productions, whether that be in weekly services, holidays, or weddings.  

Dr. Smith played the organ at Carr Chapel from 1953 to 2008, a total of 55 years. During that time, he played at over 2600 weddings – each taking 5 hours of his time (10). In an interview with him, he verbalized the rich history of the chapel while adding humorous interpretations of events. One of his most adamant points was, "The chapel was done in 1953. I don't know why so many people think it was opened in 1954. Someone must have written it down wrong but I know that it opened in 1953." His evidence was that he and his wife were married in April of 1953 and the next month the chapel opened. They wanted to be married in the chapel, but it wasn’t quite finished yet. "Your wedding is not something that is easily forgotten" (9). 
Dr. Emmet Smith
Taken from flyer
One of his first memorable moments in the chapel occurred when he was rehearsing and getting to know the organ and acoustics in the new chapel. The contractor of the chapel's construction and future mayor of Fort Worth, Thomas McCann, came in and sat down in the pews. "He sat there and looked around for a while. He said to me, 'This is the finest building I have ever built'" (9).

Years after the chapel opened, the walls were repainted (the same color). Dr. Smith happened to be in the chapel rehearsing while the painter was preparing the walls. The current paint was "cotton-y" and absorbed sound. Dr. Smith simply asked the painter, "Did they tell you how we wanted this painted?" He told the painter to put a certain mineral in the paint that would harden when dry (and wouldn't change the color) so the acoustics would be better. "The sounds of the organ and the choir were much better. No congregation wants to sing when they can hear themselves," (9). 

Dr. Smith and his wife were very vocal about the recent renovations made to Carr Chapel. They organized the TCU Retirees Association and Historic Fort Worth to oppose some of the renovations that they believed degraded the integrity of the chapel. Some of the changes they disagreed with were the painting of the walls and changing the balcony into a bride's room (9). Together, they played a large role in the chapel maintaining its ethos throughout the changing times. 
References
  1. "Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)
  2. Hall, Colby D. History of Texas Christian University: A College of the Cattle Frontier. TCU Press, 2014. 
  3. “Home.” Robert Carr Chapel, chapel.tcu.edu/.
  4. “Religious & Spiritual Life.” Religious Spiritual Life, faith.tcu.edu/.
  5. “Texas Christian University.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Christian_University.
  6. Swaim, Joan Hewatt. Walking TCU: A Historic Perspective. Texas Christian University Press, 1992. 
  7. Flyers obtained from TCU Special Collections, 27 Feb. 2018.
  8. Interview conducted with Mallory Nason, Assistant Director
  9. Interview conducted with Dr. Emmet Smith, previous organist of the chapel
  10. "For better or worse." TCU magazine, magazine.tcu.edu/spring-2012/for-better-or-worse/.
  11. "Betty Buckley." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Buckley#Personal_life