History of the Stowe Mountain Chapel
The Stowe Mountain Chapel was born through love and faith. William T. Kieffer, Jr, a member of St. John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church, loved Mount Mansfield, as did his daughter, Mary Donnelly Kieffer. Everyone called her "Polly." Beloved daughter Polly died of leukemia at the age of nine years old on March 4, 1977. That summer, the Kieffer family had a memorial service for Polly around a beech tree, at 44o35”N., 72o28”W. on the Mountain, where Polly, who loved nature and animals, had seen a porcupine! The Rev. Marcus Hall, vicar of St. John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church, officiated at the service.
Ten years prior to the service Rev. Marcus Hall shared his dream of a Mountain Chapel with the Mountain Company’s First Manager and President, Sepp Ruschp. The Rev. Hall shared this dream with William to build a chapel where skiers and hikers could worship amidst the beauty of the mountain. William knew in his heart that this dream was the perfect way to honor the life of Polly with whom his family had spent so many happy days on Mount Mansfield. He and his family wanted to make Marcus’ dream of a chapel possible in memory of Polly.
Weeks later, The Rev. Marcus Hall, William, and William’s wife Ann met with Sepp Ruschp, president of the Mount Mansfield Company, and the plan was launched to found the Mountain Chapel. Through the generous efforts of Sepp, the Company granted a fifty-year renewable lease on a site opposite the former location of the Halfway House on the historic Toll Road. From the very beginning, the mission of the Chapel was to be one of interfaith, a house of prayer for all people.
For the next six years, their vision for the Mountain Chapel inspired over three hundred people who gave their talents and resources to create the chapel. One notable contributor was Connecticut architect Farny Eilers who drew the unique circular design. A ground-breaking service took place on July 16, 1982, including Rabbi Max Wall, The Rev. John Nutting, The Rev. Marcus Hall, Sepp Ruschp, Richard Tanch the new Manager for the Mount Mansfield Company, Lewis Bell, Kerr Sparks, David Walker, Lt. Gov. Madeleine Kunin, and Gordon Rhodes. On July 10, 1983, around 200 people, including Governor Richard Snelling, Sepp Ruschp as Board Chair for Mount Mansfield Company, James Perlman carrying the Torah, Sarah Kieffer carrying the Bible, Greg Knapp and Heather VanBlarcom on trumpets, Barbara Evans and Children’s Choir, William Kieffer as Chapel Board Chair, John Skinner as General Contractor, Rev. Douglas Brayton, Rev. H. James Rains, Jr., Dr. John Fey, the Rev. Marcus Hall and Priscilla D. Hall, gathered for the Service of Dedication of the completed chapel.
The Rev. Marcus Hall became the Founding Resident Chaplain, and George Stearns, J.D., who had been Secretary for the Founding Committee became the President of the Board of Directors. The Resident Chaplain was a role carved out by the Rev. Marcus Hall who served from 1983-1998 following his retirement. He invited the Rev. Bruce Comiskey, Pastor of Stowe Community Church to succeed him. The Rev. Comiskey served from 1998-2003 and invited the Rev. Dr. David Ransom of Waterville to serve. Dr. Ransom served from 2003-2020.
The first services of worship at the Chapel were July 16, 1982, Ceremony of Ground-Breaking; followed by the Seventh Annual Polly’s Day Eucharist on June 18, 1983, offered by the Rev. Marcus Hall; followed by a Bar Mitzvah for James Perlman officiated by Rabbi Max Wall; a wedding ceremony officiated by the Rev. Hall for John Gazo and Sally Walentosky, and the Service of Dedication ceremony on July 10, 1983. In addition to these official service, there have been many informal moments of worship as well as prayers unceasing through the years.
Ten years prior to the service Rev. Marcus Hall shared his dream of a Mountain Chapel with the Mountain Company’s First Manager and President, Sepp Ruschp. The Rev. Hall shared this dream with William to build a chapel where skiers and hikers could worship amidst the beauty of the mountain. William knew in his heart that this dream was the perfect way to honor the life of Polly with whom his family had spent so many happy days on Mount Mansfield. He and his family wanted to make Marcus’ dream of a chapel possible in memory of Polly.
Weeks later, The Rev. Marcus Hall, William, and William’s wife Ann met with Sepp Ruschp, president of the Mount Mansfield Company, and the plan was launched to found the Mountain Chapel. Through the generous efforts of Sepp, the Company granted a fifty-year renewable lease on a site opposite the former location of the Halfway House on the historic Toll Road. From the very beginning, the mission of the Chapel was to be one of interfaith, a house of prayer for all people.
For the next six years, their vision for the Mountain Chapel inspired over three hundred people who gave their talents and resources to create the chapel. One notable contributor was Connecticut architect Farny Eilers who drew the unique circular design. A ground-breaking service took place on July 16, 1982, including Rabbi Max Wall, The Rev. John Nutting, The Rev. Marcus Hall, Sepp Ruschp, Richard Tanch the new Manager for the Mount Mansfield Company, Lewis Bell, Kerr Sparks, David Walker, Lt. Gov. Madeleine Kunin, and Gordon Rhodes. On July 10, 1983, around 200 people, including Governor Richard Snelling, Sepp Ruschp as Board Chair for Mount Mansfield Company, James Perlman carrying the Torah, Sarah Kieffer carrying the Bible, Greg Knapp and Heather VanBlarcom on trumpets, Barbara Evans and Children’s Choir, William Kieffer as Chapel Board Chair, John Skinner as General Contractor, Rev. Douglas Brayton, Rev. H. James Rains, Jr., Dr. John Fey, the Rev. Marcus Hall and Priscilla D. Hall, gathered for the Service of Dedication of the completed chapel.
The Rev. Marcus Hall became the Founding Resident Chaplain, and George Stearns, J.D., who had been Secretary for the Founding Committee became the President of the Board of Directors. The Resident Chaplain was a role carved out by the Rev. Marcus Hall who served from 1983-1998 following his retirement. He invited the Rev. Bruce Comiskey, Pastor of Stowe Community Church to succeed him. The Rev. Comiskey served from 1998-2003 and invited the Rev. Dr. David Ransom of Waterville to serve. Dr. Ransom served from 2003-2020.
The first services of worship at the Chapel were July 16, 1982, Ceremony of Ground-Breaking; followed by the Seventh Annual Polly’s Day Eucharist on June 18, 1983, offered by the Rev. Marcus Hall; followed by a Bar Mitzvah for James Perlman officiated by Rabbi Max Wall; a wedding ceremony officiated by the Rev. Hall for John Gazo and Sally Walentosky, and the Service of Dedication ceremony on July 10, 1983. In addition to these official service, there have been many informal moments of worship as well as prayers unceasing through the years.