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The beginnings of a Christian church on this site go back to the year 1860 when the congregation of the First Presbyterian church dedicated a brick edifice with a towering steeple. This congregation had organized in 1815 in the humble surroundings of an old military barracks at Third and Sassafras Streets.

At the time of its building, this church was considered the largest building in Erie County, and its spire was visible to people for miles around.

Tragically, this building was partially destroyed by fire some twenty years later and not fully restored until 1940. A second fire in 1944 completely destroyed the building. The only part of the original complex which remains today is the Seldon Chapel annex, dedicated in 1892.

The present church was built in 1950. Its congregation merged with the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in January of 1981 and is now the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant on West Sixth Street.

Gannon University purchased the property and its buildings that year with a view to continuing the church as the University Chapel and other buildings of the complex for Student Services.

A planning process for renovation of the church began in September of 1981. A representative committee of some twenty-four persons began the study with the following instruction: Pastors and administrators are directed to assemble a committee or team to reflect on and come to some conclusions with reference to that particular community’s own self-image as church and its sense of the larger community in which it exists. (Environment and Art, USCC)

This group made a report of its study to the whole University community in December of that year. In the spring of 1982, a further series of meetings developed recommendations and practical ways for implementing the results of the self-study. These were again presented to the entire Gannon community by written report, the Gannon Knight, and public meetings.

A consultant (Willy Malarcher) and architect (Gray, Weber, Kern and MacKrell/Mr. Herbert Kern) were engaged for the project in early 1983. A special committee of the Board of Trustees received the results of this planning under the signature of the core chapel renovation committee (Rev. Paul DeSante, Rev. Charles Drexler, Lyle Labardee, Rev. Robert Levis, Patrick Milloy, Rose Marie Radomski, Rev. Richard Sullivan).

Construction began in May 1989. Completion date was scheduled for September 1, 1989.

The final planning committee included Rev. Paul DeSante, Dr. Michael DeSanctis, Mr. Richard Dunford, Mr. Paul Gausman, Ms. Renee Labaki and Rev. Richard Sullivan. Architect was Mr. Herbert Kern.

A special feature of the reserved Eucharist Chapel is a new window that incorporates four panels from the entrance lobby of the original church. Other windows and pews were incorporated into an interfaith chapel at a state correctional facility in Mercer, PA.

The chapel was dedicated on October 8, 1989.