University of Central Oklahoma - Y Chapel of Song

The Y Chapel of Song is unique among college chapels in that it was almost entirely designed and created by the students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University. Today the Chapel not only provides 'a much needed place for meetings of small religious groups,' as envisioned by President Robinson, but serves as well as a place for quiet and meditation for the entire campus community. It is also a favored site for many student events, recitals, initiations, and weddings. The Y Chapel of Song was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in July of 2001. This recognizes the Y Chapel of Song as a memorial to the hundreds involved in its creation, and honors its artistic and architectural uniqueness.

When the students met to decide a theme for the windows of the chapel, they elected not to compete with Old World artists who had portrayed the saints and Bible texts in their masterpieces. The students chose to use as their focus the songs that they sang in the services of the time for the 14 stained glass windows. They met with the YMCA and YWCA representatives to select a list of songs that might be represented concretely, and determined that one patriotic song, one folk song, and one fellowship song should also be included. Several of the themes were selected by donors who dedicated windows to family members or friends. Plans were made to design the windows on the south side around a male figure; on the north, a female figure.

Songs relating to a complete life cycle - Infancy, Childhood, Marriage, Maturity, and Immortality - are reflected in the windows on the north side of the chapel. The windows on the south side represent the five fields of activity of the well-balanced male, as envisioned in the 1940s: Labor, Service, Civic Interests, Church Activity, and Intellectual Accomplishment. The three narthex windows reflect the scripture 'I am the vine, ye are the branches.' The classic Rose Window illustrates the song 'Blest be the tie that binds.' Even the doors to the chapel represent popular hymns of the time.