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'The smallest church in America'
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Photos by Todd DeFeo
SOUTH NEWPORT, Ga. – “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst,” Jesus said, according to Matthew 18:20.
Admittedly, the cinderblock building doesn’t make much of an impression from the road. In fact, it looks more like a storage shed than a church. But, for 60 years, Christ’s Chapel in Memorial Park has served the community well – even if a dozen people at a time.
Located along U.S. Highway 17 south of Savannah, the church, which measures 10 feet by 15 feet, is known as “The smallest church in America.” Though that claim is open for debate, the church nonetheless has been attracting travelers since it opened 60 years ago.
Agnes Harper, a local grocer, built the church in 1949 and deeded the land to Jesus Christ. While many people might have expected something larger from a church, Christ’s Chapel in Memorial Park has everything one needs to hold a worship service.
“It is not the dimensions of the church which are important – it is the extent of the faith,” Harper has been quoted as saying, according to a 1998 Associated Press article. The church’s unofficial motto: “Where Folks Rub Elbows with God.”
European churches, by comparison, tend to be massive structures, often featuring intricate details or artwork. But, Christ’s Chapel’s beauty lies in its simplicity. It doesn’t feature marble statues, a cathedral ceiling or an ornate pulpit – in fact, the pulpit is barely big enough for the pastor. But, the church has stained glass windows from England and a bell tower donated in 2002 by a couple who was married at the church.
The church isn’t any particular denomination, so anyone of any faith is welcome to worship at the church. In fact, the building is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – there isn’t even a key. When a visitor opens the church’s door, a light turns on, revealing the building’s simple interior: a dozen chairs in three rows divided by the center aisle face the pulpit.
Jesus said, “two or three,” but how about 12? Incidentally, that’s enough room for the disciples and Jesus himself in the pulpit.
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