Worship and Spiritual Life

The YDS community enjoys daily and weekly worship in the three worship spaces: Marquand Chapel, Nouwen Chapel, and St. Luke’s Chapel. 

Marquand Chapel

Worship is planned and led by students, faculty, and staff of both Yale Divinity School and the Institute of Sacred Music, under the leadership of the Dean of Chapel and a team of staff and students. 

Worship in Marquand often draws on a wide variety of inherited Christian traditions, with the worship of many denominations being represented. Beyond that, though, we also pay attention to the rising number of people in Western society who have a lively interest in spirituality but feel no connection to traditional forms of church and worship. So Marquand is also actively engaged in original, creative, and experimental forms of worship, both for committed Christians and for those exploring the faith.

Attend Marquand five days in a row, and you may encounter an orthodox liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, a Mardi Gras worship party, a service of silent Lenten contemplation, a chapel converted into one of Dante’s spheres of heaven, or a worship café. As a student at Yale Divinity School, you may well have taken part in designing one of these services.

From traditional worship to brave experiment, from ancient liturgy to post-modern praise, from the heart of America to global worship, Marquand’s mission is to be worshipful, educational, and ecumenical, and we look forward to welcoming you here. 

Services take place in Marquand every weekday that classe are in session at 11:30 a.m. All services are open to the community.

For more information please contact marquand@yale.edu.

Nouwen Chapel

The Nouwen Prayer Chapel is located on the ground floor of the Divinity Library, amidst the stacks and study carrels. This space is open during the day and evening for student prayer and meditation. Nouwen Chapel is also regularly used for special prayer events, such as vigils, Advent services, and Lenten reflections organized by Yale Divinity School student groups.

St. Luke’s Chapel

St. Luke’s Chapel is located in the Berkeley Center, one block from Sterling Divinity Quadrangle at 363 St. Ronan Street, and is the home of most Berkeley Divinity School worship services. When classes are in session, the Berkeley Center hosts Morning Prayer in the Episcopal tradition at 7:30 a.m. each morning. Holy Eucharist follows Morning Prayer on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. 

All Yale Divinity School worship services are open to the campus community.

The Labyrinth

On the south side of the rear courtyad is a stone labyrinth modeled after the famous labyrinth at Chartres. Outdoor worship services arranged by the Marquand Chapel team are sometimes held in this area. Members of the campus community are welcome to use the space for quiet reflection.