City: Corolla, NC

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (252) 453-4224

Address: Old Corolla Village Road

Description: The Corolla Chapel, built in 1885, is one of Corolla’s most-treasured historic structures. Snuggled into the soundside village, 2 1⁄2 blocks behind the lighthouse, the chapel served generations of native Corollans in its small sanctuary.In its early years the church was used primarily by Missionary Baptists, although originally it was supposed to be interdenominational. Catholic Masses were first said at the church in 1917 and continued on a sporadic basis through the world wars for Coast Guard personnel stationed nearby. In 1938 the Baptists dropped Corolla from their circuit, saying it was too remote, and the church became interdenominational. In the 1960s Corolla’s population reached its all-time low, and the church was no longer used. It lay idle for 25 years. The last living trustee of the chapel was John Austin, and when he died, the church passed to the hands of his son, Norris Austin, who still lives in the village. In 1987, as Corolla began to grow again, Austin invited Pastor John Strauss to be the minister of the chapel. Strauss led a restoration, adding a vestibule, bathroom, and storage area in 1992. With regular interdenominational services, he also began to develop a following. The church outgrew its small chapel. In the summer months the village chapel that seats only 100 would have that many (or more) people standing outside. On Easter 2001 Pastor Strauss offered communion to 2,000 people during four services. This led to construction of a new church building across the road from the original chapel. The old Corolla Chapel was then moved across the street and melded into the new sanctuary to form the shape of a cross. The new sanctuary has the same tongue-and-groove beaded-board paneling and details as the old one, so that the two blend seamlessly together, inside and out. The new facility was designed to hold 200 to 250 worshipers. Today, Pastor Rick Griffis leads services at the Corolla Chapel. The best way to see the Corolla Chapel is to attend a service. Interdenominational services are held year-round on Sun at 10 a.m. From Memorial Day through Oct, an additional Sun service is held at 8:30 a.m. Four interdenominational services are held on Easter; one is a sunrise service on the beach.