Carole Chapel
The dedication of Carole Chapel on the Washburn campus took place in December 2004. The 1,500-square-foot structure is nestled among Scotch and Austrian pine trees and is in an area east of Benton Hall and south of the Memorial Union.
The chapel is named for Carole Bloomfield Etzel, b ed ’63, who, along with her husband Tim, bba ’64, were instrumental in bringing the chapel to campus and in assisting with the fund-raising efforts for the project. Carole Etzel serves on the Washburn Women’s Alliance Advisory Board and is a member of Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum. Tim Etzel was formerly on the Washburn Board of Regents and serves on the Washburn Endowment Association Board of Trustees. They are members of the President’s Club of the Lincoln Society and provided a lead gift for the establishment of the Living Learning Center.
The chapel was donated to Washburn in 2003 by the Menninger Foundation when the clinic relocated to Houston,Texas. The building was originally constructed on the grounds of the Menninger campus in 1996 and named the Irene Nunemaker Chapel, to honor Topeka philanthropist Irene Nunemaker.
The stained glass window at the entrance was designed by John Whitfield, bfa ’64, Lindsborg, and constructed byTopeka stained glass artist Steve Clark, ’73 ba, ’76 jd. When the chapel originally opened at Menninger, the stained glass window was deemed the Scott S. Smith Memorial Window. The window was donated by his widow, Marie, who had been a Menninger employee for nearly 50 years. Scott Smith was also a member of the Menninger staff before his death in 1992.
Carole Chapel is open for meditation:
- 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (when classes are in session)
- 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (when classes are not in session)
The chapel is not open for meditation:
- When the university is closed, holidays included
- When the chapel is reserved for a private event.
Reserving Carole Chapel for special events:
The chapel may be reserved for events by student and departmental organizations. It is also available for weddings and other ceremonies.
Inquiries regarding reserving the chapel should be directed to the Memorial Union administrative office, (785) 670-1725.
