The Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel was inspired by Bruton Parish Church of Williamsburg, Virginia, and was named to honor Lucille Ryals Thompson. It was built in thanksgiving for God’s blessings on America and to honor the gift of liberty and freedom to worship. Bruton Parish was the official state church of the Virginia colony, and among its notable worshipers when visiting the colonial capital were George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and George Wythe. The parish first erected a church in 1660, the present brick structure was completed in 1715, and the bell tower was begun in 1769 and took two years to complete. Bruton Parish was constructed with private donations and with taxes levied by the General Assembly on liquor and slaves, reflecting the common colonial practice of supporting churches with tax revenue. All citizens in Williamsburg, whether Anglican or not, were legally compelled to attend Anglican services, though excused absences were often accepted. In 1781, during George Washington’s decisive victory at Yorktown, the church served as both a storehouse and a hospital. The Declaration of Independence refers to “Nature’s God” and to men being endowed by their “Creator,” and the First Amendment begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...” The founders are presented as understanding the need for religious freedom in society, and quotations from George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Patrick Henry affirm belief in divine providence, gratitude to Almighty God, and the importance of religion and morality to liberty and national destiny.