Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Melbourne Beach, Florida |
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| NRHP reference No. | 92000505 |
| Added to NRHP | May 14, 1992 |
The Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach is a special old building located at 501 Ocean Avenue in Melbourne Beach, Florida, United States. Local people built this chapel way back in 1892. They wanted it to be a place for everyone, no matter their religion, and it's still that way today. Because of its history, the chapel was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1992. This means it's an important historical landmark.
Contents
What is the History of the Chapel?
Before the chapel was built, people in the community gathered for worship at a local resident's home called Myrtle Cottage. After the chapel was finished, ministers from the mainland would come to lead services there during different seasons of the year.
How Did the Chapel Survive Hurricanes?
In 1924, a big hurricane hit the area. It caused a lot of damage to the chapel's foundation. Because of this, services had to stop for a few years. They didn't start again until December 1927, after all the repairs were finished.
Who Were the Chapel's Ministers?
In 1929, the chapel's leaders hired Reverend Walter Lamphear. He was the very first minister to serve the chapel full-time. Later, Dr. Vincent Booth took over as minister from 1939 to 1943.
Chapel Upgrades and Growth
In 1942, the chapel got some major upgrades. These changes doubled the number of seats, from 70 to 140 people! They also made the chancel (the area near the altar) bigger. New sections called transepts were added on the east and west sides of the building.
Roy Terry's Impact
Chaplain Roy M. Terry, who used to be a very important leader in the Air Force Chaplains, served as the chapel's minister from 1982 to 1988. He made a big change by starting worship services all year round, instead of just seasonally. To honor him, the congregation dedicated the Roy Terry Center for Christian Fellowship on January 10, 1992.
Recent Years and Renovations
Chaplain John Rasberry also served as a minister. In July 2000, retired Air Force Chaplain John Secret became the minister. In 2004, the Terry Center was badly damaged by a series of hurricanes. But the community worked together to fix it. In September 2005, the Center was rededicated after all the renovations were complete.
