It was July 1945, when the newly constructed NAD Earle, Naval Ammunition Depot, Earle, officers and crew dedicated a chapel on the main side of the sprawling naval base, a building constructed in the shape of a cross.
NAD Earle, now known as Earle Naval Weapons Station, dedicated the new permanent red brick building constructed in Southern Colonial style with ceremonies that included Rear Admiral William N. Thomas, USN Chief of Chaplains for the US Navy, as well as the base Commanding Officer, Capt. Gilbert C. Hoover and others. Lt. John C. Castle, JR., the senior chaplain at the Depot, was the presiding chaplain. Representatives of the W.E.Johnson Company of Jersey City, who built the chapel, were also present for the ceremony
Appearing from the air as a cross, the head of the cross was the section given to the Catholic faith, and included the 14 Stations of the Cross and confessionals. The Protestant and Jewish faiths sections were at the foot of the cross.
The altar was designed to revolve so it could be used by all faiths, and the arms of the cross contain the two sacristies where members of the choir and clergy of each faith had a section to prepare for services. The revolving altar made it possible for each of the faith congregations to hold its services in the largest part of the chapel when desired, a section that seats approximately 200.
Each of the faiths provided their own vestments and religious materials used during their services.
