Originally begun as an outreach ministry by local parishes, by the 1960's it had grown large enough to require a full time chaplain. A facility in the old library accommodated not only students but professors and their families as well as members of the local community. An 1873 Steer and Turner tracker organ rescued by the Organ Clearing House was added and installed to enhance worship.

In 1973 when mandatory chapel attendance was abolished there was concern this would negatively affect chapel attendance and it did. The changing times necessitated moving to a new location a transept within Summerall Chapel, the main college chapel. But thanks to the vision and exceptional leadership St Alban's responded to the challenge and began to experience growth once again.

Dedicated Clergy leadership has been instrumental for it many successes which includes such notables as Marion Hatchett, Charles Cannon C'57, Bishop William Skilton C'62, Alex Barron C'67, Lemuel Robinson and Doug Peterson.

The Citadel has the distinction of having provided more clergy for the Episcopal Church than all other South Carolina colleges combined. There are currently three retired members of the Episcopal House of Bishops who are alumni.

But St. Alban's has not existed in a vacuum. Enormous support from local parishes has been instrumental in its success. But none more important in recent years than Holy Cross, Sullivan's Island under The Very Rev. John Burwell.

His enormous contribution to the success of St Alban's cannot be overstated, and his successor Chris Warner has continued in his support of the ministry. Although not a Citadel graduate Dean Burwell's vision and wisdom resulted in the financial underwriting of the exceptional ministry of current Chaplain Greg Smith.

The current leadership under Fr. Smith has worked diligently to keep the jurisdictional conflicts of the church out of the chapel. This has been achieved through modeling genuine inclusiveness through the witnessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all.

One retired senior official observed that The Citadel currently has over 2000 men and women undergraduates who regularly act in a way that reflects both their youth and inexperience. Self-serving activists and politicians will on occasion magnify and focus on any mistakes that are made as a way to increase personal power. When this happens the desired headlines reduce the young students to little more than objects and collateral damage.

Such an incident happened recently when during a Christmas skit a group of freshman students dressed in white pillow cases thinking they were representing the Ghost of Christmas Past. The picture went viral with the inevitable attempt to paint them as insensitive racist intentionally emulating the KKK.

In addition to the reaction from local activists and politicians was the curious response from a Citadel physics professor. In a letter to the local newspaper he asserted that any students who make such mistakes should be dismissed from school.

Students today face a more complicated and ever changing world where it is harder to find the mentoring and support necessary for the nurturing of healthy and mature growth. While campuses debate transgender toilet preferences and safe zones for those confused as to their sexual orientation students often find themselves lost amid the insanity.

But at The Citadel there is a redemptive option in St. Alban's Chapel. It is a place that is always ready to meet them where they are and provide a truly safe place to be nurtured in the love of Jesus Christ.

The news from the church is not always good these days, but don't tell this to those who were present at the recent celebration for St. Alban's. They would respectfully differ.

And they would be right.

Ladson F. Mills III is a 1973 graduate of The Citadel. He was commissioned as an Officer of Marines earned his NAO Wings and flew in that capacity. Upon ordination he transferred to the Navy Chaplain Corps and retired with the rank of Captain. He lives with his wife on Johns Island and is a regular contributor to Virtueonline.