Captiva Chapel by the Sea to resume in-person services following hurricane
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The Captiva Chapel by the Sea will resume its in-person Sunday service on Jan. 29.
Marking its 74th season, the chapel typically holds its services from November through April. Following Hurricane Ian’s landfall in late September, it began posting services on its website and Facebook page in mid-November as remediation and recovery efforts took place at the chapel.
"Our beloved Captiva Chapel by the Sea sustained significant damage," officials reported. "Although the chapel itself has not been usable, almost 1,000 of our dedicated worshippers have viewed the Sunday services online."
The Rev. Larry Marshall, who is leading the ministry for his fourth year, suggested at a recent board meeting that he return to the island in mid-January to resume the live services. The board agreed.
Due to ongoing repairs to the building, the services will be held in the chapel yard.
"Chapel attendees will miss the charm and simplicity of the chapel, but there are ordinarily more outside worshippers than those who can occupy the 90 seats in the chapel pews," officials reported.
All are welcome to attend the inter-denominational service, which will take place at 11 a.m.
As usual, the services will continue to be videotaped and posted online for viewers.
Officials have been sharing updates on the ongoing storm recovery efforts.
On Jan. 5, the flooring, pews, steeple and cemetery were being addressed. A few days earlier, sand removal was to begin in order to accommodate folding chairs and walking worshippers. In addition, a storage container arrived to hold the pews, which had to be removed to repair the chapel’s flooring.
The fish on the tip of the steeple was found on the chapel’s porch in the aftermath of the hurricane. Dating back to the schoolhouse times, it will be remounted on the weathervane. In addition, the organ had to be removed from the chapel and stored elsewhere during the renovations until ready for use.
As for the Historic Captiva Cemetery, the fence may need a total replacement. Due to the storm, sand covered many of the gravestones closest to the Gulf of Mexico, which volunteers are cleaning up.
"The chapel building is nearly 120 years old and has weathered many storms in the past," officials reported. "Construction will be ongoing during the remainder of the chapel season."
To donate to the recovery efforts, please visit https://www.captivachapel.com/donate.html.
For additional information about the historic chapel, please visit www.captivachapel.com.
People can also follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Captiva-Chapel-By-The-Sea.
The Captiva Chapel by the Sea is at 11580 Chapin Lane, Captiva.