Sacred Spaces

 

Oberlin College is blessed with multiple sacred spaces. These include spaces specifically used for Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist religious practices, and many other pleasant places for prayer and contemplation, including Tappan Square and the Arboretum.

 

Fairchild Chapel

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) coordinates the care and use of Fairchild Chapel, located in Bosworth Hall, 50 W. Lorain St., which is a multifaith house of worship used most often by Christian communities. Fairchild Chapel is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for prayer and meditation and may also be scheduled through the ORSL for worship services, lifecycle rituals, and sacred music concerts. ORSL staff and affiliates are available to officiate at lifecycle rituals.

Talcott Hall is the home of the Kosher Halal Co-Op, an innovative program where Oberlin's Jewish and Muslim communities cook and eat together according to religious and cultural dietary practices. Many students, faculty, and staff (including non-Jews and non-Muslims) frequently participate in the large Shabbat dinners on Friday nights and celebrations of Jewish and Muslim holidays here. Oberlin Hillel Shabbat services also take place here.

The Muslim Prayer Room in Wilder Hall Room 222 is the main prayer space for Oberlin's Muslim community. Communal prayer is held here every Friday afternoon when Oberlin is in session, and the campus Muslim community is also joined by local Muslims. The room is open for prayer and study whenever Wilder Hall is open.

This Meditation Room in Wilder Hall Room 325 can be reserved at Wilder Desk by groups who wish to practice meditation. Communal meditation is held here almost daily by the group Oberlin Meditators (OM). Wilder Hall Room 310 is also a meditation room which does not need to be reserved and is open whenever Wilder Hall is open.