Chapel (Collier Chapel)

THE CHAPEL

(Collier Chapel) Built in 1872, the chapel was the cornerstone of the former Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home/Ohio Veterans Children’s Home, serving as a place of worship and social gathering for the 13,500 children who resided there until 1995. Through an herculean effort, spearheaded by Bill Chavanne, class of 1955 and president of the Home History Fund, $1.2 million was invested in the chapel and adjacent cemetery for updates to keep their memory and spirit alive.

FEATURES

01

STAGE W/ AMENITIES

The chapel at AIA offers a stage with a podium, grand piano, portable sound system, automatic projector screen (no projector), mens and womens restrooms, and handicap entrances to provide a versatile and inclusive space for events, presentations, and gatherings, catering to diverse needs and ensuring accessibility for all attendees.

02

SEATS 440

The chapel at AIA offers seating for 440 people, with chairs meticulously restored to their original 1872 glory, providing a historic and comfortable space for gatherings and events. There are also 2 bump out wings on either side of stage for additional seating or room for smaller groups.

03

HEATING / AC

The chapel at AIA offers heating and AC, essential modern amenities in a historical building, to ensure year-round comfort for attendees while preserving the architectural integrity of the space.

04

$ 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR RESTORATION

Work included refinishing the chapel floor, painting inside, refreshing the stained glass windows, HVAC improvements, outside maintenance, and polishing each and every chair in the chapel. Much of the money used for that came from ex-pupils, Chavanne said. The State of Ohio contributed $400,000 thanks to the legislative work of State Rep. Bill Dean (R-Xenia), State Sen. Bob Hackett (R-London), and former State Rep. and current county commissioner Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek). Athletes In Action, which owns the land, also played an instrumental role in the grand re-opening as did Gov. Mike DeWine, who played basketball on the campus as a child.

05

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

The chapel at AIA boasts numerous stained glass windows throughout the building, including a one-of-a-kind massive circular installation at the entrance, to create a visually stunning and spiritually uplifting atmosphere, enhancing the overall aesthetic and significance of the space.

06

HISTORY

Collier Chapel at AIA (former Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphanage) Collier Chapel, built in 1873, is one of the oldest buildings that remains standing on campus. It is used currently a rentable venue for wedding ceremonies. It was renovated around 1994, and again in 2021. Behind Collier Chapel lies a nearly 100-year-old cemetery which is the resting place for many of the home's victims of a 1918 diphtheria outbreak

WATCH THE GRAND OPENING CEREMONY

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