Chapel Services
Rankin Chapel serves as the setting for mighty preaching, glorious music, and perceptive scholarly discourse; for quiet prayer and heartfelt reflection for marriages, funerals, and other rituals of the human experience.
Rankin Chapel continues to serve as the spiritual haven for the vast number of students who leave the safety of home to enter the different world of college. The Chapel serves to ease the pain of transition and provides a community of worship for displaced worshipers.
- Sunday Morning
Chapel services are held each Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. during the academic year. Due to unprecedented growth in weekly attendance, most Chapel services are held in Cramton Auditorium. Renowned and internationally distinguished orators are invited to preach during these weekly non-denominational worship services. - The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated every first Sunday during the Chapel Service. - Chapel Speakers
Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel exposes students each week to some of the world’s most outstanding clergy, scholars and civic leaders.
Broadcasts of sermons can be heard the following Sunday at 11:00 a.m. on WHUR-FM 96.3 radio. The Easter Sunday Chapel service is a live broadcast. - Contemporary Worship
Wednesday Night Live (WNL) is a nontraditional, contemporary worship service that is designed and led by students. Worship is often expressed through the art forms of hip hop, spoken word, comedy, dance gospel music and skits. WNL is as creative, open and caring as the imagination of those led by God to envision and implement. Services are held each month during the academic year in the Chapel sanctuary.
Special Services
Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel presents special worship services to commemorate important dates in the liturgical year, particularly the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday and Holy Week services. Additionally, baptisms, weddings, funerals and memorial services are held in the sanctuaries of Rankin and Dunbarton Chapels. Usage of the Chapel facilities for any purpose must be approved and scheduled by the Office of the Dean of the Chapel.
- Baptism – Dedicatory and baptismal services are held at the Chapel. For additional information, please contact the Office of the Dean of the Chapel at 202-806-7280.
- Weddings – Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel and Dunbarton Chapel are memorable settings for marriage ceremonies. Learn more about planning weddings at the Chapel
- Funeral and Memorial Services
Funeral and memorial services are held at Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel and Dunbarton Chapel for deceased students, alumni, faculty, staff of Howard University. For assistance, please contact the Office of the Dean of the Chapel at 202-806-7280. - Holy Week
Holy Week observances include various services throughout the holiest season of the liturgical year. An Ash Wednesday service and imposition of ashes mark the beginning of the Lenten season in the Chapel. Palm/Passion Sunday service is held in Cramton Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. Additionally, Maundy Thursday, Stations of the Cross and Tenebræ Services are held at announced times in addition to other special services and events during Holy Week. Sunrise Service is held in the Chapel sanctuary on Easter Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m., followed by the 11:00 a.m. Chapel Service in Cramton Auditorium.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Monetary gifts for the purchase of Sunday floral arrangements are welcomed in honor or memory of loved ones and special events. The arrangement can be obtained at the end of Chapel worship services by the person(s) making the gift.