Unusual Christian Places: Chapel of the Snows

The non-denominational Chapel of the Snows is at the United States McMurdo Station on Ross Island, Antarctica.  Protestant chaplains are supplied by the United States Air National Guard and Roman Catholic priests by the Archdioceses of New Zealand.  The chapel is also used by Mormons, Bahai’s, Buddhists, and Alcoholics Anonymous.  The chapel is the southernmost religious building on Earth.

The chapel has burned to the ground and been rebuilt twice.

Unusual Christian Places: A Chapel Made of Ice

Belgrano II is an Argentine research station in Antarctica.  The nineteen residents are served by a Roman Catholic chapel built entirely of ice.  The chapel is featured on the Worldwide Antarctic Program website.

The average temperature at the base hovers around 5 to 48 degrees below zero (Centigrade).   Night and daylight both last for months.  Research at the base centers on weather, studies of the atmospheric ozone layer, seismology, and magnetic field studies.

Antarctica is Also Our Home

The population of Antarctica, one of the harshest environments on Earth, is about 5000 during the "summer," and falls to around 1000 really tough people during the winter.  Around 72% of the people are Christian, 24% are non-religious, 3% are Muslims, 1% are Hindus, and 1% are Buddhists.  The percentages fluctuate slightly as the seasons change.

The Christian traditions represented among the population include non-denominational,  Russian Orthodox,  Roman Catholic, and Bulgarian Orthodox.  One of the churches, at Belgrano II Base, is made entirely of ice!