OCEAN CITY - The Central Ocean City Union Chapel, located at 32nd Street and Central Avenue, has celebrated 96 years in mission for our Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout the past 96 years, there have been many dedicated Christians led to carry on the work first envisioned by the early vacationers, who first met in the pavilion on the 32nd Street beach, were known as the Central Ocean City Cottages Association with William Powick as president. The original purpose was to open 31st Street to the bay with a boardwalk to launch their boats for fishing. They also wanted lights on the pavilion to allow for evening meetings. The last entry in their journal, August 28, 1915, stated they would go to the Ocean City commissioners on August 31, 1915 to make their requests. The meeting adjourned with the agreement to meet again at the call of the president.
Meanwhile, women who resided in the vicinity of 32nd Street, organized themselves in 1914 to be known as the Women's Central Ocean City Civic Association. Mrs. J.F. Buck, president; Mrs. John Berger, vice president (mother of Ed Berger, former owner of Berger Realty); Mrs. Charles Reinhardt, secretary; and Mrs. Frank Souder, treasurer, were the first officers. The purpose of the group as reported in the Daily Ledger (now The Sentinel-Ledger) on July 21, 1916: "To foster and encourage any feasible project that promises to help this wide'awake and growing section of our city. One of the more recent enterprises was raising funds for the erection of a Union chapel." The article continued, "The need for such a building has been felt for a number of years, ever since the twilight services were inaugurated and carried on successfully by the late Mr. Livermore and Dr. Getty." "These services were held for one hour each Sunday evening during July and August in the pavilion on the beach at the foot of 32nd Street." The article reports that over 120 people gathered for Gospel singing and every Sunday afternoon, Sunday school was held with almost 80 children attending.
Through prayer, contributions, bake sales bazaars and ice cream socials, these dedicated women raised $800 which purchased the corner lot at 32nd and Central Avenue. They then proceeded, under the leadership of Annie More Buck, to take out a certificate of incorporation of the Central Ocean City Union Chapel and stated that the organization was to remain interdenominational.
By 1921 the debt on the chapel was cleared. As the ladies paid off the final payment, the bell, which had been donated in 1916 but had never been run since the belfry was not erected until 1921, finally sang out with such sweet tone. The ladies rejoiced that their prayers were finally answered. The Women's Civic Association then became the Ladies Aid and continued to raise funds to support the chapel.
The following poem - written by Susie Glass Strider to the Ladies Aid August 2, 1924 - seems to express the feelings of so many who have come to our chapel.
Central Ocean City Union Chapel
Mr. Frank Allen
128 Wesley Avenue, Ocean City, 08226
Mr. Raymond Costello
38 Hilltop Lane
Egg Harbor Twp., NJ 08234
Mrs. Ann Egner
1707 Benjamin Drive Ambler, PA 19002
3120 Central Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226
Dr. John E. Jamieson
Mrs. Marilyn Jamieson
1111 Lakeside Drive EggHarbor Twp., NJ 08234
Mrs. Barbara Owens
5030 Highland Street, Port Norris, NJ 08349
Mrs. Nancy Partridge
3301 Central Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226
571 Wigard Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19128
Dr. William Pehlert
5209 West Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226
Mr. Daniel Radford
Dr. RuthAnn Radford
2945 Central Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226
41 #233 Preston Trail Palm Desert, CA 92211
Mr. Richard Schindewolf
P.O. Box 944 Ocean City, NJ 08226
Mrs. Diane P. Sharp
3112 Wesley Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226
1008 Fieldstone Court Lancaster, PA 17603
Rev. George W. Smith
P.O. Box 55 Strathmere, NJ 08248
Oak Bend
10620 S.W. 27th Avenue Ocala, FL 34476
Honorary Board of Trustees
Mrs. Lillian Eland
211 Willow Valley Square, E305 Lancaster, PA 17602
Church of the living Christ beside the sea!
I love your restful coolness sweet to me
Your dim arched pleasant shade,
for prayer was made
From your broad windows came
Sweet murmurs of the deep
As through your narrow isles sea
breezes sweep.
I love the sound of your deep toned bell
As over land and sea its echoes swell
And call the weary to your kindly arms,
Away from worldly cares and wild alarms.
O bell! Ring on, across the waiting years
Ring out God's love and dry the
mourners' tears.
May many souls from sorry find surcease
And rest within these walls of love and peace.
Christ in whom all are one, is the foundation stone
and all find here, that God is good.
In universal brotherhood
Here in this hallowed spot
are rites and creeds forgot
While Knox and Wesley join in Psalms
As fountains spring neath Elams palms
And all God's children joyful raise
Their voices in the songs of praise
Along the summer's Sabbath days.
From North and South they come to the
City by the sea
From East and West of our blest
land and free!
And carry home the message that
God's servant here imparts
For he sows beside all waters
and it falls on grateful hearts.
The Central Ocean City Chapel still stands on that same corner. The same building and the same sweet, deep-toned bell still reminds all that God loves them and tells them to worship Him. Yes, through prayers and pennies God provides.
Freewill Offerings
The Chapel is supported entirely by freewill offerings.
Contributions may be sent to:
Central Ocean City Union Chapel
P.O. Box 2182
Ocean City, NJ 08226
For our 90th Anniversary Celebration we had Cat's Meow design, a special keepsake for our Chapel friends to purchase.
They are still available at The Cricket Box gift shop at 7th & Asbury Ave. in Ocean City.
Board of Trustees
Cat's Meow
Through prayers & pennies, God provided
Central Ocean City Union Chapel was founded in 1915
