Knightly News

In the fall of 2022, Chaplain Charlie deGravelles challenged Episcopal students to imagine a campus Peace Place. Chaplain Charlie, now the Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, was inspired by the creative placemaking efforts in Arnaudville, Louisiana. Artists and community members transformed the small city into a center of creativity. Chaplain Charlie hoped the Episcopal placemaking process would reinforce the school community and enhance campus life.

Now, in the spring of 2025, the dream has been realized, and the Episcopal Peace Place was recently dedicated. The bright space is nestled between Aldrich Library and Penniman Hall and features outdoor seating, planters and ample space to display student artwork. The space reflects the ideas of students, the teamwork of adults and one family's dedication to the school they love.

The overall Quest for Peace Program and the new Peace Place are possible because of the support of the deGravelles family. Chaplain Charlie’s twin brother, Judge John deGravelles, and John’s wife, Jan, established The Charles N. deGravelles Quest for Peace Endowment Fund in honor of Chaplain Charlie. Since the fund’s creation, Chaplain Charlie has engaged in efforts to help students make connections between academics, everyday life and their ability to make a positive difference in the world. He has led Peace Day efforts on campus and is a co-leader of the Service Learning & Community Impact course. This student-led course examines topics including criminal justice, housing and homelessness, mental health and addiction, animal welfare and more.

The new Peace Place is a visual reminder of the hope and peace embraced by Chaplain Charlie and his family. Before the Peace Place dedication, Chaplain Charlie shared a message of hope with the entire Episcopal student body in the All School Easter Eucharist. Afterward, during the dedication, Benjamin deGravelles ’30 shared a message of peace as he led the crowd in The Prayer of Saint Francis. In addition, Rainier deGravelles ’25, Elizabeth deGravelles ’33 and John Porter Saurage ’25 read aloud a quote from Albert Einstein, a lesson from the book of the prophet Isaiah and The Peace Poem. 

The Peace Place is also a reminder of the strength of the community. Judge deGravelles advised those gathered at the dedication that the Peace Place is a collaborative effort. “It’s the work of a lot of people,” he said. “We’re proud to be a part of this.” Chaplain Charlie pointed out the tremendous team that worked for two years on the project. The effort began when members of the NUNU’s Arts Collaborative in Arnaudville, including George Marks and Peg Ramier, conducted a student survey in 2022. Episcopal alumnus Robert Obier ’75 donated his expertise as an architect to put the students' ideas into a plan, and the Episcopal operations team made that plan a reality.  Recently, fifth graders planted the garden, seventh graders made butterfly décor, Middle and Upper School students painted artwork, the Upper School Student Vestry provided a Peace Pole and Dawn Burton’s Upper School English class wrote a poem to celebrate the meaning of the space.

“The Peace Place is yours,” advised Bishop Shannon Duckworth. “The space is made special by your presence.” With such a community effort to establish this special new place on campus, the Peace Place showcases the possibilities of learning and working together. The space truly does belong to the entire student body. Hopefully, the space will serve as a creative hub that inspires students for years to come. “I am eager to see what this space becomes for this community,” said Father Patrick Edwards as the Peace Place dedication concluded.

Thank you to the deGravelles family and everyone who made the Peace Place possible. Seeing how students use the space and make it their own will be rewarding.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.