iTTiSxS£S*Saitt£3J B36 December 1,1978 Island Reporter ivcTs By Peter Larson ' In an age when churches seem increasingly sectarian and SANIBEL^APTIVA AND THI ISLANDS r«OM etTEKO BAT TO THE OASPAR1LLAS 2 SICTIONS 64 PAGES DECEMBER 8,197B 2Oc membership-conscious, Capture's S»affl85IK^^ Chapel by the Sea is a curious exception to the rule. Since its formation in 1947 the Chapel has been non-sectarian and,. technically speaking, mem- berless. During five months of the year protestants of every stripe congregate beneath the palms to worship in amicable coexistance, making the Chapel a Peaceable Kingdom of Epsicopaleans, Pres- worship on Captiva. Before that the congregation depended on ite, Seating byterians, Methodists, et al. time the island was churcnless; Fort Myers ministers who com- For nearly 60 years the Chapel the chapel building itself was a muted to Captiva and preached in building has been the only place of derelict schoolhouse, owned and exchange for free meals and over- abandoned by the county. night lodging. The school house, Captiva's Chapel by the Sea traces its first, was built in 1901 on land ecumenical roots to the late 1940's, donated by William Bender, an when the wood frame building was By Susie Hotty ..,.-.:- Austrian sailor who was ship- in need of major repairs. As one wrecked on Captiva as a boy and present-day Captiviari recalls,. The Sanibel City Council had a busy morning Tuesday electing amayor and vice- returned to the island years later "The Methodists couldn't afford to mayor and appointing two planning com- to become Captiva's first home- fix the building and they knew the missioners. But by morning's end, Duane steader. rest of the islanders wouldn't help White had emerged as mayor, Francis In her History of the Seashell pay for repairs as long as the, Bailey was vice-mayor, and Don Manchest- Islands, Elinore Dormer notes church was run by brie denomina- er and Joe Searing had been named to the that the school building doubled as tion." planning commission. a church whenever a circuit Fiscal necessity prevailed over The mayoral election moved quickly. In preacher arrived on the island. parochialism and in 1947, a group accordance with the city, charter. City "On such occasions," writes Mrs. of islanders bought the church for Attorney Neal Bo wen took over the chair to u ask for nominations. Bailey, Porter Goss Dormer, the families arrived on the Methodists for $7,000 - with ' and Charles. LeBuff quickly' said . they foot or by mule-dfawn wagon, the condition that the building wouldtxot accept a nomination. bringing enough food to last all always be used as a church. The Bailey then nominated Zee Butter for re- day. They^ picnicked between non-denominational chapel won election to the post she has held for the past morning and evening services ..." the immediate support of Captiv- _year, and LeBuff offered White!s name. The one-room schoolhouse was ians and in 1953 the. Chapel abandoned after several years' use incorporated. Charter members ; ^Wiii#tlren was elected when it was discovered that most. included Susan- Karr, Carl C. In the election of the vice-mayor, Butler of Captiva's students lived further Erler, Charles S. Alt, Dorothy Chap«l By th* S*a> a 'Poacaafal* Kingdom up-island. The deserted school fell Wedekind and Beulah Wiles. Of of IpUcopaladnji. Methodists, Prasbytor* and Goss both stated they did not want to lans, •t.al. "'" •'"•'"• \ ^ be considered for the position. Butler then into disrepair until 1921, when the five, only Erler an^d Karr still entered Bailey's name: as the sole nomina- Worshippers yt resident " pastor Dr. Captiva resident Hattie Gore reside full-time in the Sanibel- construction of the Herman tion. He was elected unanimously. David E. Wvlnland. launched an effort to restore the Captiva area. • Dickey memorial addition. With" In accepting the mayor's" chair, White "I don't think the church ever the addition, the Chapel accom- said, "I am highly honored that my fellow had a mortgage/' says Mrs. Wil- modated 120 worshippers. councflmen felt I was worthy to serve as chairman of the council and ceremonial head I lard J. Schultz, chairman of the During the height of the winter u Chapel board of" directors and season nearly twice that "number of the city. But it takes all of us to get things done. And we have an outstanding track Ul daughter of charter member of worshippers attend services at record of working together." ~Charles Alt; "Everyone pitched in the Chapel. Seated outside the White said he would consider himself a and bought the church outright." ao. Chapel on folding chairs, the councilman first and mayor second. In the LU According to Mrs. Schultz the overflow crowd can listen not only past White has suggested that the city ae chapel was administered for many to the sermon but to the sound of might want to consider amending the Q years by the Captiva Civic Associ- birds and the whispering surf. charter to a strong mayor form of govern- ation. Administration was later Despite the informal setting, ment rather thai) the weak mayor-strong assumed by a regular board of church attire at the Chapel re- city manager form now in force. He said this directors. Since its inception the week, however, he has "always been a mains rather formal. strong believer in adhering to the charter. I chapel has never had an actual "It's the only opportunity some shall make that my goal in this year serving Winging it: membership but relies instead on of us have to dress up,*' explains Sunday morning offerings and asmayor." : / •• - . •'• '••'•-•C- ..; •;•. On the wing from their Mrs. Schultz. "The rest of the Following the election of the mayor and breeding grounds in the Contest is islanders'cup of tea private contributions to meet ex- week we wear shorts and slacks. I vice-mayor,, council turned to the: business penses. The Chapel's operating northwestern United think most of us look forward to of appointing two planning commissioners States, white pelicans have By MarkTwombly budget last year was roughly dressing up." _ to fill the seats of Manchester and Joe arrived again to winter in Tve been doing $10,000. The Chapel's biggest annual McMurtry whose terms expire December Pine Island Sound. For In recent years, major changes event is a candlelight Christmas 31.,:': •••.••.•:,•• ' ••--;.:::::. •• ••;•:•.;.-; more see page 1-B. A month ago Norma_ and John at the Chapel have included con- McMurtry announced bust week that he Hodosko were debating whether this for years. Captiva's first Khoolhous* also smrvod as a Eve service. In recent years as or not they should buy a new car. makachlft chap*l wh»n circuit-riding building for use as a Methodist struction of a parsonage during many as 500 worshippers have • continued on 4-A Fve won praachors vlsltad th« Island. church. the 1950's. Traditionally, the par- attended the outdoor, carol- The, eight-year-old Impala they The Methodists purchased the sonage is occupied five months of singing service. were driving was snowing signs of televisions, pots building from the county in 1921 the year - from November to For decades Captiva's Chapel by terminal rust. and for the next 26 years the mid-April— by a retired minister the Sea has remained almost Their jobs as housekeeping and chapel became the site of regular in residence. changeless. For some residents maintenance managers at the Col' and pans— Sunday Worship services. Top The last major expansion of the the church has become a symbol of ony Motel on SanibeFs east end small to sustain a resident pastor. Chapel came in 1961, with the sorts, hemmed in and threatened By Peter Larson Although conferees discovered no miracle afford them a relatively easygoing you name it. I by development pressures that solution to the pepper dilemma, organizers lifestyle and the chance to do a mount with' eijch passing >years In Greek- mythology it took Hercules to deemed the meeting a success. .modest amount of travelling on Developers of one residential pro slay the Hydra,-a. multi-headed monster "It was the first time Florida's schinus their "days off. But the financial But nothing that grew new heads as fast as they were experts, have gathered under one roof," strain of raising four children.and ject recently built a sewage treat- 9 ment facility that borderis bn cutoff. noted Dr. William Webb, a national forestry paying for cancer surgery for Last weekend a team of Florida experts expert and SanibeL resident who helped Norma made buying a car a major this big. Chapel property* a gesture/ that convened at the Sanibel-Captiva Conser- conduct the conference. Hopefully someone outraged many Chapel worship- vation Foundation Center to battle a will carry away a spark from this meeting; budgetary decision., modern Hydra, an "unkfllable" weed breakthroughs always begin with a spark." Then one day John opened bis 'I think it exhibits a complete known as Scninus or Brazilian pepper. Attended by more than 80 forestry and mail to find a questionnaire about disregard for the island,*' says Flourishing alongroadsides, dftchbftttks and biology^ experts, the conference attracted Mrs. Schultz. "The developers had other disturbed areas, experts say the weed delegates trom state and federal parks and continued on 13-A is growing at an alarming rate in South acres of land but they had to build ; Florida, displacing native vegetation in "its • continued on 32-A I the thing next door to the Chapel." wake; . - wS'-Srr-m*~T~'-—"T- — *-'• ^7'" **' •*'•'••--•' i,-- -y-fiju-ir^rf irr."*r Island Reporter December 8,1978 A3 A2 December 8,1978 Island Reporter or new ByMarkTwwnMy to CROW only the land on which CROW CROW was homeless and virtually non- buildings will stand.