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Home Chapel is just north of Memorial Hall.
It is the first permanent chapel ever constructed by the U.S. Government. It was built using stones quarried at the Home. The
cornerstone was laid November 21, 1868. Home Chapel was dedicated in
1870, and the bell tower was added shortly afterward. Once
inside Home Chapel, you will notice the stained glass
seal of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers behind the
pulpit near the ceiling. The interior is frescoed, and the National colors are draped across the ceiling.
Chaplain William Earnshaw has been our Chaplain since 1867. He has had a long illness this year, but clergymen
from the community have kept up the morning and evening Sunday Services and mid-week Service. A Service is also held in Home
Hospital every Sunday afternoon.
Rev. Dr. Charles S. Kemper is our Catholic Chaplain. During Catholic Services, a Catholic
 altar is placed where the pulpit usually
stands. Our German Baptist Chaplain, Rev. G. H. Gellert, has preached in the German language every second Sunday since July
1, 1884. It is important to have services in German since 2,425 of the veterans cared for at the Central Branch in the past year
were born in Germany. We cared for 1,340 veterans who were born in Ireland. Sixty four percent of the veterans cared for were
born outside the United States.
Home School
Miss Mary J. Eaton is the teacher in the Home School. Chaplain Earnshaw is the Superintendent of the school. The subjects taught
include reading, spelling, history, arithmetic, algebra, penmanship, bookkeeping, and woodcarving. There are about 70 veterans on the roll for the Home School.
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