One of the greatest traditions at Concord Academy is the chapel. Seniors are given 15 minutes of the school's attention to perform to their heart’s desires. A common chapel consists of a speech split into segments with music of the chapel giver’s choice. There may be storytelling of funny moments, valuable senior advice, and lists of gratitude to teachers, friends, and family. But what distinguishes a chapel from the rest? What really makes a good chapel? Here are some of the opinions of some valued members of the community, along with some of my personal opinions.
Something that matters heavily is that the idea of the chapel is dedicated to the chapel giver. The freedom given to the speaker is a chance they will rarely see again. It is key that the chapel giver does not fall into the pressure of what is expected of their speech. A good chapel should be satisfying to the chapel giver, regardless of whatever traditions they may be breaking. After being asked about his thoughts on chapel-giving, English teacher Ayres Stiles-Hall stated, “I think that falling too far into what others expect can be a surefire way to write a chapel that's not authentic. That said, it takes a lot of bravery to be completely honest.” The speaker should find what is true to themself. Being true is often incredibly entertaining. In a discussion with Mike Soto ’25, Mike said, “The chapel giver shouldn’t think about what other people want to hear, it should just be what they want to share or something they want to get off their chest, like AQ [AnhQuan Tran ’24] sharing what he despises about chapels.”
Now while the chapel is dedicated to the chapel-giver, it is important to recognize that it is also a huge community bonding experience. After powerful chapels, teachers and students alike often spend parts of that day talking about the chapel they witnessed that morning. A chapel that is able to connect with the school is something incredible. The speaker has the power to spread thoughtful advice, reflection, and empowerment to the community. But being thoughtful about what you put out into the world, what you reveal, and how your audience may interpret your story is important. During an interview, recent alum Ben Anantachaisophon ’24 remarked, “The chapel might be about you and your friends’ hilarious stories and anecdotes, but being mindful that the whole school is listening is very important to me.” Stiles-Hall mentions, “Too many inside jokes or stories can make a chapel less relevant to the community. Again, this is about the balance: obviously, the chapel-giver needs to recognize people who matter to them, but there's a way to do that without hinting that there's lots that the community doesn't know.” The speaker should be mindful of how their words resonate with others.
A great chapel is often one that is very memorable. There are chapels that seem completely unique. I have seen a chapel consisting of purely a long poem dedicated to a heartfelt loss, a chapel of lively music without much spoken at all, and chapels that at first glance are not too different from the rest, but leave every listener with something they will not forget. Stiles-Hall remarked, “Andrew Stevens said something in his chapel about crafting a chapel that only he could write, and I think that's also important: as a writer, you get a chance to ask yourself what only you can add to the conversation of the community.” Mike agreed, “Each chapel has its own story, with different perspectives, that’s what makes a chapel entertaining.” Every community member has distinct experiences, outlooks on life, and pieces of advice; it is important to share those unique aspects of each person. Often the words never heard before are the words that we remember the clearest.
Writing a chapel is tricky. Seniors often spend nights stressing over writing their chapel, but there is no such thing as a bad chapel. There are parts that feel obligatory and parts that feel necessary for a “great” chapel, whether that means memorability, impact, or authenticity. Every chapel has its nuances, its inside jokes, its worries, its fallacies, but as long as those 15 minutes are true to the chapel-giver, there is nothing that can make that chapel any less than a good chapel.