Woodworth Chapel: Tougaloo College’s Symbol of Hope and Change

Woodworth Chapel has always been a place of solace for the Black community.

The divine faith that can be found there gives hope to the hopeless and support to the lonely. Located on the campus of Tougaloo College, Woodworth Chapel is more than the spiritual heart of the yard. It's a guidepost of sanctuaries.

Woodworth Chapel at Tougaloo College

Civil Rights Movement Meeting Ground and Safe Haven

During the 1960s and 1970s, Woodworth Chapel was a meeting ground and safe haven for the Civil Rights Movement. It hosted prominent national leaders and activists, including Martin Luther King Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers, Ralph Bunche, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, James Baldwin, Roy Wilkins, and Robert Kennedy, to name a few.

Historic Performances and Cultural Significance

The chapel's stage was also graced by renowned performers such as Harry Belafonte, Leontyne Price, Frank Sinatra, and Joan Baez, marking it as a significant site for both activism and the arts. A notably integrated audience attended Joan Baez's 1964 performance during the height of the movement, making it a symbolic "origin of Mississippi's Civil Rights Movement" in the eyes of many.

Construction History and Architectural Heritage

From its very inception, Woodworth Chapel has always been a spiritual beacon of community working together. The historical landmark was primarily constructed by Tougaloo students in 1901. It was named after Dr. Frank G. Woodworth, who served as the college's president from 1887 to 1912 and played a pivotal role in the institution's development. Designed as both a chapel and an auditorium, Woodworth Chapel features historic architectural elements.

Award-Winning Restoration and Preservation

In the early 2000s, those details were restored after a period of deterioration and closure in the late 1980s. The restoration preserved original pews, organ, and the 80-foot steeple, and won several preservation awards. The chapel continues to be the setting for important events, including the 2018 induction of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home into the African-American Civil Rights Network—a testament to its enduring legacy as a place of progress and hope.

Continuing Legacy at Tougaloo College

Woodworth Chapel remains a place of worship, reflection, historical commemoration, community gathering, and activism—a true testament of Tougaloo College and a distinguished landmark in civil rights history.

Author

Crystal McDowell

Crystal McDowell is the CEO of Marketing Maven Management, a marketing and communications firm created to ensure accurate and positive storytelling that includes people of color. She has a Mass Communication degree from Jackson State University and an MBA from Belhaven University. She has 18+ years of journalism, PR, and marketing skills, which she obtained working across the country. Her hobbies are traveling and storytelling.