GFU Chapel Update: Hosting Weddings

Reported By: Benny Schorie

Photo Courtesy: @georgefoxuniversity on Instagram

In the spring 2022, George Fox University (GFU) announced its newest construction project in a series of campus improvement projects. The largest undertaking was the construction of a new chapel which did not begin until summer 2023. According to Shawn Daley, chief strategy and business development officer for the Office of the President, the chapel is set to be complete and fully operational by October 2024. 

A recent update to the GFU website related to the chapel is the option to fill out a form where people can book wedding ceremonies there for the summer of 2024. Although recent updates confirm that the chapel will not be completed at that time, the purpose of the form is to gauge interest in the possibility of the chapel as a wedding venue.

Although the chapel’s original purpose and designs were not intended to host weddings, Daley said that it “has been an ongoing discussion in the past year, prompted by inquiries from some recent alumni. We are exploring whether this is a feasible possibility and have not made a final decision on this.” 

“Getting the initial requests made us consider having [wedding ceremonies] on a limited basis, but we are doing our due diligence by testing whether that interest is limited to a few members of our alumni community,” Daley said. 

However, as the chapel’s central function and purpose is to facilitate student use, Daley commented that if the chapel was “to hold weddings, they would most likely be during times in the summer (May-August) when traditional undergraduate students are not on campus.” The rental process for the chapel will be similar to that of other facilities on campus during breaks and will not interfere with students’ lives.