The Lake Shore Chapel will open on Sunday, July 6th, 2025, for our 121st season!
By 1900, a dozen cottages had been built along the Lake Michigan lakeshore, and for residents and visitors, reaching the village churches on foot was not easy. Accordingly, the summer community accepted an offer from one of the centrally located owners to hold a Sabbath Meeting at their cottage. The dwelling next door served as a place to which the young children could retire for their lesson during the main portion of the service.
Collection was not taken, but the children continued to save their pennies. Not knowing what to do with them, someone suggested with a laugh, "Save them to build a Chapel!" Despite the humor behind the suggestion and the incredulousness of the idea, a Chapel was born.
Lake Shore Chapel was built and dedicated on 17 July 1904. Early services served as adult Sunday School. One group member led the International Sunday School lesson for that day, and the meeting adjourned with a few hymns. Visiting ministers from along the shore and Camp Gray would join Lake Shore Chapel to preach.
As travel became more commonplace, Lake Shore Chapel was more easily accessible, and ministers from across Michigan and surrounding areas began joining the Chapel to lead non-denominational worship. Now, visiting pastors lead worship on Sundays throughout July and August.
The children, who used to retire to the back of the Chapel or to a nearby dune or porch, now go to the Children's Chapel which is a memorial to one of the Chapel's former children, Paul Elliott Ullmann. The bell and bell tower, plantings around the Chapel, piano, flower vases, Friendship Porch, and Memorial Garden and bench are also memorials to former members of our Lake Shore Chapel community. The flag and Bible used at the original Chapel dedication have been preserved and are on display in the Chapel.
In 1997, Lake Shore Chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A three-volume set of Lake Shore Chapel's history, spanning the first 100 years, can be purchased for $40. Please add $5 if shipping is required. For more information on how to order, contact us at lakeshorechapel@gmail.com