The Chapel of the Snows is a multidenominational church. It serves the religious needs of McMurdo Station residents.

Antarctica's first church was built in 1956 by volunteers using surplus materials. This building was destroyed by fire in 1978. The only things rescued were the chapel bell, two stained glass windows, and various small religious items. In 1979 a quonset hut was remodeled to serve as chapel, and the building was dedicated in December. By 1982 another Chapel of the Snows had been built close to the original site--again with volunteer labor using salvaged material.

The current chapel was constructed over four summers and completed in 1989. Volunteers using salvaged material built the only know house of worship in Antarctica. The McMurdo Station Chapel of the Snows sits on a knoll overlooking McMurdo Sound and the peaks and glaciers of the Transantarctic Mountains, across the bay from Mount Discovery. It is the world's southernmost building constructed for religious services.

The Legend of the Erebus Chalice
This historic Chalice is on display at the Chapel of the Snows.

In 1841, Sir James Clark Ross, aboard the HMS Erebus, led an expedition to what is now Ross Sea. On board the ship was Lieutenant Edward Joseph Bird, who carried a silver and gilt William IV style communion chalice.

Bird attained the rank of admiral, and when be died the chalice was passed through his family as an heirloom. In 1987 the Bird family, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated 1911 expedition to the South Pole, had the chalice engraved and dedicated, and offered it for use at the Chapel of the Snows. The chalice was first used in services in the chapel on Christmas Day, 1987.

The chalice is housed and displayed during the austral winter at the Christ Church Cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand. At the beginning of the Antarctic summer the chalice is presented in a ceremony to the McMurdo chaplain, for transport back to the Chapel of the Snows.

McMurdo Ministers

Since the beginning of the Antarctic program, Navy chaplains have served on the Ice, but this year Dave Stillie becomes the first civilian chaplain at McMurdo. He previously pastored churches in Kansas and Colorado, and is the protestant chaplain.

Catholic priests will come from New Zealand, as they have in the past, to serve about one month each.
They are:

• Father John Coleman - October 97
• Father Steve Lowe - November 97
• Father John Jolliffe S.M. - December 97
• Father Chris Friel - January 98

The chaplain and priest will provide regular worship services at the chapel and will minister within the McMurdo community.

Much of the work and ministry of the chapel is done by volunteers. The music, much of the teaching, and special activities of the chapel require the leadership of faithful lay ministers. Your time on the Ice can provide you with an excellent opportunity to use and sharpen your talents and skills. Make the most of your time: Volunteer!

Everyone is welcome at the Chapel of the Snows!

Whatever your religious background, we will make every attempt to accommodate you in your worship or your spiritual discipline.

Feel welcome to attend any of the scheduled services or activities, stop by the chapel anytime for a quiet cup of tea, conversation, or to pick up a different kind of book to read or music to listen to.

The chapel door is always open, and the chaplain and/or priest are always ready to listen!

Chapel Offerings

The chapel program is fully funded by ASA and is not dependent on the financial support of it's participants. If you are a church member elsewhere, that church is the proper place for you tithes and offerings. However, if you wish to give here as an act of worship, we will take a regular offering. These offerings will be properly accounted for and at the end of the season the chapel community will decide the disposition of the funds. All funds will be given to charitable organizations.