DID YOU KNOW YMCA St Helens had a chapel?
Not everyone does, even some of its residents and staff.
Since January 2019, YMCA St Helens has had a part-time chaplain, Kieran Bohan, who has taken on the project of restoring the chapel as a communal space for residents and staff to gather, or to take quiet time out for reflection.
The chapel, on the second floor of the early 20th Century building on North Road, has not been used regularly for more than twenty years.
When Kieran arrived and explored the space, he found some hidden treasures:
- A stained glass window celebrating the international YMCA movement with the original red triangle logo and the name in different languages
- A 1949 edition of the YMCA hymnal ‘specially designed for the use of men’ with the original logo representing ‘Spirit Mind Body’ on the cover
- A 1927 edition of the YMCA hymnal and prayer book presented to ‘St Helen’s YMCA Everyman’s Chapel’ presented by the ‘St Helens YMCA women’s auxiliary in loving memory of Betty Leyland’
as well as several wooden plaques commemorating significant people and moments in the life of the Association.
YMCA St Helens has begun to renovate the space to return it to use as a chapel – a creative, reflective, quiet space for the YMCA community to enjoy.
Since the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) is no longer just for young men, or Christians, Kieran’s proposal is to rename the former ‘Everyman’s chapel’ as ‘Everyone’s Chapel’ when the restoration is complete.
It will include artwork designed and made by residents to reflect the new name.
The rededication of the chapel will include an event which is open to the wider community to celebrate with and show support for the YMCA St Helens community.
Watch this space for updates on progress or contact Kieran for more details. If you remember the Everyman’s Chapel when it was in regular use, we’d love to hear your story, or if you can support the chapel restoration project in any way, we’d appreciate it. Email Kieran the chaplain: kieran.bohan@sthelensymca.org.uk
Photo Credit: Pastor Bjorn Dixon, YMCA OF THE TWIN CITIES, MINNESOTA
