It’s considered a beacon in the city of Annapolis, Maryland and on the U.S. Naval Academy yard. The Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel – a place of worship, hope and reverence for thousands of midshipmen, alumni, friends, faculty and staff to experience a deeper level of faith.
“What struck me most was how deeply the chapel is tied to the story of the Navy and to the country more broadly,” said Benjamin Hall, a correspondent for FOX Nation, in an interview with Military.com. “It’s a remarkable building, but it’s much more than that. Every part of it seems to hold meaning - from the stained glass windows to the crypt below, to the way it stands within Annapolis as such a visible symbol of tradition, duty and faith.”
The story of the chapel, complete with a guided tour and interviews with the staff, kicks off a new series on FOX Nation titled, “America’s Churches with Benjamin Hall.” He travels across the U.S., from Maryland to New Orleans, New York to California and beyond, searching for America's most historic churches and how they became the fabric of faith in the United States. The Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel kicks off the series.
“It was very much by design. Each of the churches in the first run of the series gives us a different angle,” said Hall. “Syracuse is about education, sport, and the role faith can play in shaping community. St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans is about endurance; how faith helped carry a city through Hurricane Katrina and other moments of real pain. And the Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel is about service, about the role faith can play in guiding men and women who are preparing to serve their country.”
CENTURY-OLD CHAPEL STANDS THROUGH THE YEARS
Built between 1904 and its dedication in 1908, the chapel’s history includes compulsory attendance among naval officers until 1972, with protestant and catholic services held to this day, and several remodeling and expansion projects that adhere to its status as a National Historic Landmark.
In 1940, the Chapel underwent extensive remodeling, which doubled its capacity to 2,500, to accommodate larger classes of midshipmen. During the remodeling, a central part of the chapel was added to the building to form a large cross. Additionally, the dome over the chapel is copper, and the cupola is massive, standing at 193 feet above the main altar area.
The chapel also houses the world’s largest draw-knob organ. It’s controlled by two consoles and has more than 15,000 pipes and 268 ranks.
“Until the invention of the steam engine, the pipe organ was considered the most complicated piece of machinery ever invented,” said chapel organist Monte Maxwell, in a preview of the FOX Nation series, which has been screened by Military.com. “That’s a pretty magnificent thing.”
On the left side of the nave, there is a roped-off pew in memory of prisoners of war and those missing in action.
But it’s the music coupled with the church’s grandeur that makes for a moving religious experience.
“You want the conclusion of the service, be it a mass or protestant service, to leave people encouraged with hope, to go out into the world and continue their journey of faith until we come together again,” said Maxwell. “To send the people out in joy. It is a magnificent thing, a vehicle to help move the human soul.”
HISTORIC CHAPEL SERVES AS COMMUNITY CENTERPIECE
Hall says his visit left him fascinated and inspired.
“It is simply an extraordinary building, full of history, symbolism and beauty,” added Hall. “I’ve also always been struck by the beauty and history of churches — their architecture, what they represent, and the stories they hold from the past while still pointing people towards the future.”
In 1995, the Chapel was honored with its own U.S. postage stamp, in celebration of the Academy's 150th anniversary.
“At a time when we see American service members operating in dangerous parts of the world, it felt like a very powerful place to begin,” said Hall. “We talk in the episode about how faith can give people courage, steadiness and guidance in difficult moments.”
In 2009, nearly seventy years after the 1940 renovation and expansion, the chapel underwent extensive repairs to address decades-long deterioration. It was important work, not only for the Naval Academy but for the City of Annapolis and the surrounding communities.
“In so many towns and cities, here and around the world, the church sits at the center of community life. It brings people together, guides them, and often helps carry them through both the best and the hardest moments in life,” said Hall. “So the connection is not just historical, it’s living. This chapel has been part of the moral and spiritual life of generations of midshipmen. It helps shape character, and character matters enormously when people are later called on to serve, lead and sacrifice.”
The series “America’s Churches with Benjamin Hall,” premiered Monday, March 30, 2026, with various FOX Nation segments available on air and online.
