Spiritual Life

Grounded in the faith of the School’s founders, the Spiritual Life program welcomes diverse religious traditions as it seeks to promote spiritual growth, reflection, and understanding in all students as individuals, as members of the community, and as members of the wider world.

Hill School students attending Chapel inside the Alumni Chapel

The Hill School requires all students to attend nondenominational Chapel services; these are times when the entire community gathers to reflect on others’ beliefs, insights, and personal experiences. Any sixth form student may give a Chapel Talk with the Chaplain’s permission. Students are encouraged to consider giving a Chapel Talk during their time at The Hill.

Regular programming includes meditation, Spiritual Reflection, the Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools (FOCUS), Shabbat dinners, and other on-campus programs throughout the term. Students may also participate in a variety of voluntary worship opportunities. Faculty help Roman Catholic students attend Mass every Sunday while school is in session, and on all Holy Days of Obligation. Services are held in the Alumni Chapel for important Christian observances during the school year, including Advent, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, and other occasions as noted on the calendar. Additional annual observances include the Jewish High Holidays in the fall, the Passover Seder in the spring, and nightly gatherings for prayer and breaking the fast during Ramadan.

The Chaplain eagerly supports the addition of many ongoing programs based on student interest and initiative. The School encourages students to experience traditions other than their own. All boarding students must fulfill three Spiritual Life Requirements over the course of the school year, one each term.

Chapel Talks

Attending Chapel is one of The Hill’s most treasured traditions. Sixth formers and faculty take to the lectern each week and offer the community the most inspiring, reflective, insightful, and sometimes comedic talks. Most Chapel Talks are recorded and shared here on our website for all to enjoy.

Take a Listen

Meet the Chaplain

The Rev. Anne Confer Martens '02 | Firestone Endowment Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Life

The Rev. Confer Martens grew up in York, Pennsylvania and came to The Hill School as a student in the fall of 1999, following in the footsteps of her brother and cousin. She graduated from The Hill in 2002. She has a B.A. in Religious Studies from Connecticut College, a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and an S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology) from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. She completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. In January 2016, she was ordained a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In addition to serving as the Firestone Endowment Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Life, the Rev. Confer Martens is the W.K. Runyeon Instructor of Religious Studies and Philosophy. She is a dorm parent in Johnson House, where she lives with her husband, Eric, and sons, Andrew and Timothy.

The Rev. Anne Confer Martens '01 speaking at the podium in The Hill School Alumni Chapel.

Spiritual Life Advisers

In addition to The Rev. Confer Martens, Hill School faculty members serve as spiritual life advisers to students of different faiths on campus.

Hazem Saleh P'28 | Spiritual Life Adviser for Muslim Students
Seth Eilberg P'22 '23 '25 '28, Lauren Mellander, and David Shefferman | Spiritual Life Advisers for Jewish Students
Andrea and Chris Chirieleison '85 P'18 '19 '21 | Spiritual Life Advisers for Catholic Students
Elizabeth Tamburro | Spiritual Life Adviser for FOCUS
Doug Jones P'27 and Diane Deery P'21 '23 | Spiritual Life Advisers for Meditation

History of the Alumni Chapel

The front of The Hill School Alumni Chapel.

Built in 1904, the Alumni Chapel is one of the oldest and most recognizable buildings on campus. The Chapel was the first collaborative gift from alumni, presented specifically to pay tribute to the importance of spiritual life at The Hill. After initial fundraising fell short, William W. Clawson, president of the alumni association and Hill class of 1885, embarked upon a formal campaign to raise money for a new chapel. Solicitation cards inscribed with the slogan "The Hill School Chapel: To Be or Not to Be?" were sent to all alumni. This prompted a great response of generous donations and before long the full amount needed for the chapel construction was received.

With more than 100 alumni in attendance, the formal dedication of the chapel took place on February 20, 1904. To complete the chapel, Headmaster John Meigs and his wife, Marion, donated an organ, which also was dedicated at the ceremony in memory of John's mother, Mary.

On September 27, 2024, The Hill School community celebrated the rededication of the Alumni Chapel. The service commemorated the renovation and expansion of the Chapel that began in June 2023. From the expansion, the Chapel has expanded its occupancy from 511 to 590 people with its construction of a new balcony. Read more.

For questions about The Hill's Spiritual Life program, contact The Rev. Anne Confer Martens at aconfermartens@thehill.org.

Quick Links

Quick Links

Chapel Talks

Meet the Chaplain

Spiritual Life Advisers

History of the Alumni Chapel

Helpful Links