Chapel of the Snows
The Chapel of the Snows is a non-denominational Christian church located at the United States' McMurdo Station on Ross Island, Antarctica and is one of eight churches on Antarctica.
| The Chapel of the Snows | |
|---|---|
 The Chapel of the Snows, as of 2007 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Christianity |
| Rite | Roman Catholic, Latter Day Saints, Protestant |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Year consecrated | 1956 |
| Location | |
| Location | Antarctica |
| Municipality | none |
| Territory | Antarctica |
| Architecture | |
| Type | church |
| Style | modern |
| Funded by | United States Government |
| Completed | 1956 (destroyed by fire in 1978, rebuilt in 1989) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 63 |
| Dome(s) | 0 |
| Spire(s) | 1 |
| Materials | Wood |
Overview
The chapel is the southernmost dedicated religious building in the world and has regular Catholic and Protestant services. During the Austral Summer from September to March, the chapel is staffed by rotational chaplains. Historically, the Diocese of Christchurch supplied Roman Catholic priests and the U.S. Air National Guard had provided Protestant chaplains. As of 2015, chaplains are now entirely military personnel from both the Air National Guard and US Naval Reserves, each serving for about four to six weeks on rotation. The chapel is also host to services and meetings for other faith groups such as Latter Day Saints, Baháʼí, and Buddhism and non-religious groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. These meetings are mostly dependent on lay leadership to be the points of contact and facilitators. The building itself holds about 60 worshippers and contains a small meeting room, a Blessed Sacrament chapel, two clergy offices, a small kitchen, and a restroom.[1]
The original Chapel of the Snows was built from scrap construction materials by the US Navy Seabees, based out of Port Hueneme, CA. The original chapel burned down in 1978 and was replaced with a new temporary chapel. After the current chapel was built, the makeshift building (which has since burned down as well) was converted to other uses. The current chapel, dedicated in 1989, features custom stained glass which depict the Antarctica Continent, the Erebus Chalice (during Austral summers only), and memorabilia from the US Navy's historic involvement in Operation Deep Freeze. The altar of the Chapel of the Snows is believed to come from St Saviour's Chapel in Lyttelton, New Zealand,[2] where Robert Falcon Scott worshiped prior to embarking on the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition.[3]
The chapel is one of the buildings which will be replaced as part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization for Science project, to upgrade and improve facilities at McMurdo.[4]
In popular culture
See also
References
- Chapel of the Snows. A history of the Chapel of the Snows
- "Chapel returning home to Lyttelton". Anglican Taonga. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- "St Saviour's Anglican Church (Former)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- "The Antarctic Sun: News about Antarctica - A Next-Generation Antarctic Science Station". antarcticsun.usap.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
