WALNUT RIDGE — Williams Baptist College will open Manley Chapel with a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Dedication of the new chapel will coincide with the first day of classes and opening convocation.
"This will be the day we have greatly anticipated for some time," Williams Baptist President Dr. Jerol Swaim said. "The chapel is even more beautiful than we had imagined, and the dedication is going to be a true celebration for such an incredible addition to our campus."
Among those taking part in the dedication will be Steve Manley, who conceived the original vision for the chapel and is providing the largest gift toward its construction. Manley is CEO of Universal Asset Management, which operates a facility at Walnut Ridge Regional Airport near Williams.
Manley's brother, David Manley, will also offer thoughts of dedication from the Manley family. He is president of Southern Baptist Education Center, a private school in Southaven, Miss.
Emil Turner, executive director the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, will deliver thededication address.
Swaim said the college is expecting to have nearly a full house for the dedication ceremony, with the entire student body, faculty and special guests in attendance. The chapel will seat more than 550 people.
"Steve Manley envisioned this chapel as an iconic structure on the Williams campus, and it certainly is that. The chapel is situated in the heart of the campus, and its extraordinary appearance symbolizes the spiritual purpose of WBC," Swaim said.
Manley Chapel sits prominently at the north end of Midkiff Lawn, and at 54 feet tall, it can be seen across the campus and beyond.
"We are extremely appreciative to Steve for his generosity and vision, and we also feel deep appreciation for a number of other donors who have given sacrificially to make this project possible," Swaim said.
Construction was recently completed on the chapel, and workers are now tending to landscaping details, such as planting shrubbery and laying sod. Cost of the chapel project is more than $3 million.
Three Rivers, Pages 121 on 08/23/2009