Spiritual Life

Our Spiritual Approach

Chatham Hall encourages spiritual reflection in all aspects of life on campus. Rather than emphasizing religious differences, we focus on what we have in common — our human spirituality — and encourage you to participate in ways that are most meaningful to you.

Chatham Hall is committed to nurturing your spiritual life in the spirit of the National Association of Episcopal Schools: At Chatham Hall we are interested in nurturing the whole girl. We live this vision out by focusing on what unites us, our spirituality, rather than what divides us. We recognize that adolescence is a time of critical thinking where doubt and questioning are natural parts of a developing spirituality. As such, at Chatham Hall you are encouraged and met with possibilities rather than feared and suppressed.

Though a school with rich Episcopal heritage, we welcome students of all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs.

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Senior Chapel Talks

During your final year at Chatham Hall, you are tasked with planning and giving a Senior Chapel Talk. Seniors choose each element of their special service, including the music, readings, quotes, and more. They then deliver their speech about something important to them to the entire School community.
Guild System

The Guild System offers you an additional way to get involved with Chapel services. Guilds include the Chapel Servers Guild where students serve as acolytes or banner carriers, Bread Making Guild where students prepare bread for communion, Altar Guild where students care for the School's sacred items, and Flower Guild where students make floral arrangements for the altar.

Spiritual Life Team

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Elisabeth "Beth" Barksdale

Dean of the Chapel & Spiritual Life, Director of Entrepreneurship

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Beth Barksdale is a graduate of Salem College, Harvard Business School's OPM program, University of the South’s EFM program, and has her MDIV from Wake Forest University. She is a candidate for the position of Teaching Elder with the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and the Doctor of Ministry cohort at Union Presbyterian Seminary (fall 2020). In addition to being the School's chaplain, Beth leads the entrepreneurship program, calling upon her many years experience as CEO of Encore Exchange, a leader in healthcare patient communications and self-pay management.
Rebecca "Mother Becky" Crites

Priest

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In addition to being being priest and helping to uphold Chatham Hall's Episcopal traditions, "Mother Becky" Crites serves as the priest-in-charge at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in the Town of Chatham. She started at Chatham Hall in 2018 and has since had a major impact on the Spiritual Life program.