Fergus Chapel – "We Never Knew This Was Here!"

Each day during AirVenture Oshkosh, volunteer chaplains at Fergus Chapel promote EAA's Spirit of Aviation by supporting the spiritual needs of the family of flight. The chapel grounds are home to scheduled worship services, a daily aviation fellowship, and the annual EAA Memorial Wall Induction Ceremony. Throughout AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 people were heard to exclaim "We never knew this was here!" Whether it was the result of word of mouth, the published daily schedule in AirVenture Today, the new road signage or the EAA App, more people came to participate in 2014. Fergus Chapel is located next to Compass Hill, between the Nature Center and the Pioneer Airport. This 80-seat, old-time chapel is the EAA's first permanent building, constructed when the grounds expanded beyond the flight line in 1981. During convention week, it is one of the quietest places on the grounds, with a welcoming feel that comes from old wooden pews, aviation-themed stained glass, a large stone fireplace, and an organ. 

Fellowship of the Wing
AirVenture’s "Fellowship of the Wing" is a daily opportunity to gather, share an early cup of coffee and a song, hear from a guest speaker, and start the day energized at the intersection of faith and flight. What began a decade ago with a handful of people has grown to a regular group of 50. People renew friendships and kindle new ones among this annual magnet for people from every facet of aviation. It is these aircraft designers, homebuilders, aircraft restorers, aircraft judges, airshow performers, aviation artists, astronauts, aerospace educators, EAA staff, board members, historians, exhibitors, jungle pilots, lawyers, photographers, writers, and test pilots who have come to Fellowship of the Wing to share what God has done in their lives, using the unique language of flight.

Worship Services at AirVenture Oshkosh
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday during AirVenture Oshkosh, there are traditional services at Fergus Chapel, the Theater in the Woods, and the Forum Pavilions, supported by musicians from local faith communities, providing those who come to Oshkosh several opportunities to worship.

Memorial Wall Induction Ceremony 
EAA’s Memorial Wall, next to Fergus Chapel, is the place where families and friends remember and honor those who have gone before them. The annual dedication service is held on the last Sunday of AirVenture Oshkosh. Each year's Memorial Wall Registry Album can be viewed in the Fergus Chapel foyer during the week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

Weddings? Yes!
Just in case you wondered, people can and do schedule the Fergus Chapel for weddings. (But that is a story for another time.)

The team at Fergus Chapel consider it a privilege to serve the spiritual needs of our unique community.

And, as at every other place at Oshkosh, “Airplane is Spoken Here.”

See you in 2015!