St. Oakerhater Chapel
Dedicated Saturday, January 17, 2004

The Oakerhater Window, Artist: Preston Singletary

Chapel and Window Dedicated to the Glory of God
and in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of
St. David Pendleton Oakerhater

The St. Oakerhater Chapel is dedicated to David Pendleton Oakerhater, a valiant Cheyenne warrior in his youth. Later, as a prisoner of war in the era westward expansion, he would become a deacon of the Episcopal Church from 1881-1931. During his 50 years of resolute service on his home reservation, the Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation in western Oklahoma, the devout Deacon was at times the single ordained presence in all Indian Territory. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church added his name to its Calendar of Saints in 1985, the first American Indian so named. On the occasion of the dedication the Very Rev. George Back, cathedral Dean, said: "We write into our cathedral walls a new history. In doing so we raise up a new love story in the midst of many old stories of abuse and disrespect suffered by American Indians".

For more information about the St. Oakerhater Guild, please contact the Rev. Canon Carol Hampton at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .