Making Faith Visible and Tangible: University of Jamestown Welcomes a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible

Jamestown, North Dakota– On September 26, 2025, the University of Jamestown in North Dakota officially welcomed a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible.

The acquisition occurred in tandem with the unveiling of the renovation of the Vorhees Chapel and the connected Reuben and Clarice Liechty Center for Faith and Life. As the name suggests, this place truly is the center of life on campus.

This particular Chapel is special for another reason: It is part of more than twenty Vorhees Chapels, built by benefactors who sought to enhance the architecture of communities across the country. This enduring work ensured that places of Presbyterian worship could be built on joy and beauty, and to last the test of time.

But even the most enduring architecture requires love and care over the years, and Jamestown’s Vorhees Chapel is no exception. To stay true to the historic design of the original Chapel, the University worked with an architect from Arizona who specializes in this kind of construction.

“Everything was done with historic value in consideration for this project,” said Lisa Jackson, VP of Marketing at Jamestown.

The renovation was launched in 2023 thanks to the generosity of Jim and Candy Unruh. Their only wish was that, in conjunction with the renovations, the University would launch a new school specifically for leadership, learning, and faith. This new school is called the Unruh School of Character in Leadership.

The reconstruction also included the Student Union, Dining Center, and a new Center for Faith and Life.

As renovations were underway, a kismet meeting happened at a local Rotary gathering. There, Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program Rev. Dr. John F. Ross met Elmer Schindel, alumnus, Trustee Emeritus, and beloved supporter of Jamestown.

As Ross spoke about the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible and its ability to ignite the spiritual imagination and foster critical conversations and musings surrounding faith in the twenty-first century, Schindel became more and more enamored. He felt that, through this work of sacred art and scripture, faith could become visible and tangible.

What better gift is there for a University already undertaking the important process of putting tangible care into a Center for Faith and Life?

According to an article published by the University, “[Schindel] encouraged President Dr. Polly Peterson and her team to see The Saint John’s Bible as not only a work of art, but as an investment in the spiritual and intellectual life of Jamestown.”

“Elmer’s encouragement reminded me that our strongest commitments are those we make visible. He had a gift for seeing what could be possible here,” President Peterson reflected in the same article.

“We also wanted to be sure this would be a living part of our campus—not simply a beautiful object, but something our community could truly engage with. Once we understood the care and imagination behind the Bible’s creation, it became clear this was something that belonged at the heart of our community,” she continued.

The University further personalized this gift with the creation of a beautiful display case, designed and crafted by Matthew Bowen, Senior Maintenance Technician at Jamestown. Bowen used wood reclaimed from twenty of the chapel pews from before the reconstruction, ensuring that this gift would indeed be shaped and molded by the very people who make the community what it is today – an enduring hub of leadership and learning.

For his role in shaping Jamestown, the University remembers Schindel fondly and wishes that the gift of the Heritage Edition will serve as a reminder of his spirit and life.

“The Heritage Edition stands as a living testament to Schindel’s belief that Jamestown should be a place where faith, learning, and community are not just spoken of, but made real—visible for all to see,” wrote Jackson in an article for the University blog. “His story, like The Saint John’s Bible itself, is one of both tradition and transformation. For his candor, his generosity, and his unwavering love for this university, we give thanks.”

For those who’d like to schedule a viewing of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at the University of Jamestown, contact the UJ Library at 701-252-3467 ext. 5530.

The Saint John’s Bible: Making the Spiritual, Tangible

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To explore The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at the University of Jamestown, click here.