POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – A historic chapel in Pompano Beach will keep its doors open and walls standing after officials ruled that the building will not be demolished.
The George Foster Chapel – located at 201 NE 2nd Street, just south of the main church – would be moved approximately 0.6 miles to Centennial Park, which is home to the Sample-McDougald House.
The structure was once part of the Christ Methodist Church, which was torn down so developers could make more modern residential towers in the area.
With so much demand for land in South Florida, it’s a sign of progress for longtime Pompano Beach residents like Jerry Bowman.
‘I’m just a resident who is passionate about history and preservation in this town,” he said.
Bowman, who has lived in Pompano Beach since 1960, reminded Local 10 News that the structure is one of the first churches in the city.
He says the church has been at that location since 1939.
The structure has an intimate, small chapel with original wooden floors and eight beautiful stained-glass windows that were donated by pioneer settler families who were involved in building the structure and its congregation.
Originally known as the first United Methodist Church of Pompano Beach, it was once the main Methodist church for residents up until 2007 when it later merged with Christ Methodist Church.
The historically significant building will eventually end up at nearby Centennial Park.
Once in place, it will continue to be used as a wedding chapel.
Pompano Beach residents say it’s important to keep tradition going for younger generations that will be able to get married there.
“It gives younger people coming up along and future generations an opportunity to be married in a wedding chapel that their families wedded in,” said Bowman.
The location was also home to the Sample McDougald House Preservation Society, which was moved about 22 years ago.
Developers said it took seven hours to move the preservation society and it’s now a museum located at 450 NE 10th St.
The McNab House — another historic home — was also moved three years ago. It now sits at McNab Park, about five blocks away from its original location.
The chapel is expected to be moved by the end of 2024.