Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Statue of the Buddha in the main temple
Gadaladeniya Viharaya
McClellan Falls
McClellan Falls
Kraken Habitat
Skye Textile Mill
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Caru' cu Bere
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Aerial view of Pulau Tiga
The Original ‘Survivor’ Island Changed Television Forever
about 14 hours ago
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Roaming among Assateague's feral island ponies
about 17 hours ago
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Literary Landmarks Across Providence
about 17 hours ago
The Campus Theatre in downtown Lewisburg.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: An Art Deco Theater in Pennsylvania
about 17 hours ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Georgia Townsend Memory Park Christ Chapel

Memory Park Christ Chapel

Dubbed the "smallest church in America," this tiny sanctuary was a local grocer's dream come true.

Townsend, Georgia

Added By
cicconerobot
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Rebuilt Memory Park Christ Chapel, March 2019.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
Rebuilt Memory Park Christ Chapel, March 2019.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
Inside  
  JohnMHoyt / Atlas Obscura User
  JohnMHoyt / Atlas Obscura User
  nicolaspratt / Atlas Obscura User
Original Memory Park Christ Chapel, September 2013.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
Travelers’ shrines, September 2013.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
Travelers’ shrines, September 2013.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
Original Memory Park Christ Chapel interior, September 2013.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
Rebuilt Memory Park Christ Chapel interior, March 2019.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
  nicolaspratt / Atlas Obscura User
  nicolaspratt / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  nicolaspratt / Atlas Obscura User
  timelesscreations / Atlas Obscura User
Amazingly built in 1949  
Tiny but mighty with beautiful stained glass  
So quaint  
Bequeathed to Jesus  
Memory Park Christ Chapel, March 2019.   cicconerobot / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located about a mile off Georgia Coast Scenic Byway in McIntosh County, the Memory Park Christ Chapel serves as a sanctuary for thousands of travelers passing through the I-95 corridor in southeast Georgia every year. A small sanctuary has stood here for decades, welcoming any tired traveler who happens upon it.

Local grocer Agnes Harper envisioned this place of rest and meditation for weary travelers. Her dream became reality in 1949, when the 190-square-foot structure was constructed. It featured stained glass windows imported from England and seating for about 12 to 15 people. The tiny building was deeded to Jesus Christ.

The original church was destroyed by a suspected arsonist in November 2015, but local communities quickly rallied around the landmark. These volunteers, using as much of the original structure as they could salvage, along with donated materials, succeeded in rebuilding it in 18 months. It was rededicated the weekend before Easter 2017.  

​

Related Tags

Churches Roadside Attractions Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

Non-denominational worship is hosted by local ministers every third Sunday.

There's parking at the church as well as a BBQ grill and picnic table.

Community Contributors

Added By

cicconerobot

Edited By

Mom0ja, PushingUpDaisies, nicolaspratt, jjc0307...

  • Mom0ja
  • PushingUpDaisies
  • nicolaspratt
  • jjc0307
  • timelesscreations
  • JohnMHoyt
  • dianag

Published

March 27, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.exploregeorgia.org/darien/general/historic-sites-trails-tours/the-smallest-church-in-america
  • https://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2015-12-01/story/smallest-church-america-burns
  • https://thebrunswicknews.com/life/smallest-church-in-america-re-dedicated-after-rising-from-ashes/article_d335569e-2252-5d9e-9417-5f975b0188ae.html
Memory Park Christ Chapel
23478 US-17
Townsend, Georgia, 31331
United States
31.638084, -81.394719
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ralph Quarterman Grocery

Allenhurst, Georgia

miles away

Old Liberty County Jail

Hinesville, Georgia

miles away

Torrey-West House

Georgia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Georgia

Georgia

United States

Places 219
Stories 15

Nearby Places

Ralph Quarterman Grocery

Allenhurst, Georgia

miles away

Old Liberty County Jail

Hinesville, Georgia

miles away

Torrey-West House

Georgia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Georgia

Georgia

United States

Places 219
Stories 15

Related Places

  • The Church at Texas

    Palmer, Texas

    The Church at Texas

    This unusual roadside attraction filled with handcrafted signage is home to a unique church.

  • Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin

    Wakefield, England

    Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin

    A tiny chapel perched along a 14th-century bridge.

  •  Church of María Natividad de Balbanera, Cajabamba, Ecuador.

    Colta, Ecuador

    Iglesia de Balbanera

    Ecuador's first Catholic church was built by Spanish conquistadors in 1534.

  • The Wayside Chapel.

    Monroe, Washington

    Wayside Chapel

    The tiny church offers succor to travelers driving by, but only eight at a time.

  • Gas ‘n’ God

    Arlington, Virginia

    Arlington Temple United Methodist Church

    This church built atop a gas station promises to "equip you for the next stage in your life’s journey."

  • Church of the Good Shepherd

    Lullington, England

    Lullington Church of the Good Shepherd

    This tiny church is one of England's smallest.

  • St Mary’s and All Saints Church, Dunsfold

    Dunsfold, England

    St Mary's and All Saints Church & Holy Well

    An ancient yew tree and holy well nestle beside a remarkable 13th-century church.

  • Hudson, Massachusetts

    United Memorial Chapel for All Faiths

    One of the smallest churches in the United States is located along the side of the road in a residential neighborhood.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.