Editor’s Note: This article was updated on Feb. 10 with new information from an email sent on Feb. 9, regarding when the Prescott Prayer Chapel will reopen.
Heavy seasonal rain last December caused water damage that closed the Prescott Prayer Chapel at Point Loma Nazarene University; however, the space is expected to reopen by Feb. 20. The rain seeped under the door and into the floor, according to Jeff Bolster, PLNU vice president for university services.
“The good news is there is no major leak or crack, but the bad news is now we have to figure out how to fix the door issue without a big modification,” Bolster said, adding that the issue only affected the flooring and did not impact other structural components of the building.
Options to solve the problem would include remodeling the flooring or adding a water strip underneath the door.
There wasn’t an email sent to the campus community, alerting them of the closure.
Bolster said that was because they wanted to confirm what the issue was, but Carly Mischke, PLNU associate vice president of facilities operations and campus planning, said it was a mistake, and students were supposed to receive the email.
An official email was sent to main campus students on Feb. 9 from Mischke. It said that repairs are underway, and the chapel is anticipated to open by Feb. 20.
The message included the original email, meant for the campus community, from Jan. 13, sent by Eric Remley, PLNU assistant director of campus facilities operations. The alert of the issue was only sent to faculty and staff.
“We are investigating the cause of recurring water damage to the floor and have closed the chapel to facilitate further investigation and determination of a remedy,” Remley said in the email. “We understand the importance of this space … We will provide an update when a more precise date for reopening the chapel is determined.”
Kristjana Miller, a second-year nursing major, said the first time she noticed the chapel was closed was the day she returned from winter break.
“I went to open the door, and it was unlocked,” Miller said. “When I opened it, I saw that there were a bunch of tarps and ladders; it was very clearly a construction site.”
Miller said the prayer chapel is part of her daily routine, and it’s been heartbreaking to her that it’s closed. She said it’s been a place to relax and pray.
“The prayer chapel has been my safe space throughout my college experience,” Miller said. “Out of all the places I’ve ever been, it’s where I feel closest to God. It’s definitely the place where I feel most at peace and most connected.”
Anders Holmen-Crow, PLNU adjunct professor in the Reuben Welch School of Theology and Christian Ministry, said that prayer chapels in general can provide a physical location for different communities to root their spirituality in.
“In its absence, given the damage, we are finding ourselves longing for it,” Holmen-Crow said. “The way that we long for the prayer chapel to be prepared is where we can mirror our longing for God.”ilding.
Options to solve the problem would include remodeling the flooring or adding a water strip underneath the door. Bolster said the chapel is about four weeks away from reopening, but said they’re still in the “discovery phase.”
Kristjana Miller, a second-year nursing major, said the first time she noticed the chapel was closed was the day she returned from winter break.
“I went to open the door, and it was unlocked,” Miller said. “When I opened it, I saw that there were a bunch of tarps and ladders; it was very clearly a construction site.”
Eric Remley, PLNU assistant director of campus facilities operations, sent out an email to faculty and staff on Jan. 13 to notify them of the issue.
“We are investigating the cause of recurring water damage to the floor and have closed the chapel to facilitate further investigation and determination of a remedy,” Remley said in the email. “We understand the importance of this space to our community and appreciate your patience as we work to ensure the chapel is safe and properly restored. We will provide an update when a more precise date for reopening the chapel is determined.”
When asked why an email was not sent out to students, Bolster said, “We will do an email update as soon as we have a definitive progress report. We don’t want to put anything out until we’re sure.”
Miller said the prayer chapel is part of her daily routine, and it’s been heartbreaking to her that it’s closed. She said it’s been a place to relax and pray.
“The prayer chapel has been my safe space throughout my college experience,” Miller said. “Out of all the places I’ve ever been, it’s where I feel closest to God. It’s definitely the place where I feel most at peace and most connected.”
Anders Holmen-Crow, PLNU adjunct professor in the Reuben Welch School of Theology and Christian Ministry, said that prayer chapels in general can provide a physical location for different communities to root their spirituality in.
“In its absence, given the damage, we are finding ourselves longing for it,” Holmen-Crow said. “The way that we long for the prayer chapel to be prepared is where we can mirror our longing for God.”
On February 9, an email was sent out by Mischke that read, “Repairs to the Prescott Chapel flooring are underway, and we anticipate reopening the chapel by Friday, February 20.
We appreciate this community’s patience while we care for this special campus space. An update will go out again once the chapel is officially reopened.”
Ava Bailey-Klugh