The "The Ocean City Tabernacle" Story

The Tabernacle as it appears today.

It was an ordinary day.  Just took a couple of photos of the Ocean City Tabernacle located at 550 Wesley Avenue in Ocean City, NJ.  The seven-mile stretch of sand dunes, meadows and cedar swamps was originally known as as Peck's Beach, since John Peck used the island for his whaling operations during the mid-1800s.  

The 1880 auditorium of the first Tabernacle.

Eventually in 1879, four Methodist ministers chose the island as a spot to establish a Christian retreat and camp meeting grounds.  They met under a cedar tree which still stands at 6th Street and Asbury Avenue and made plans to build a tabernacle in the general vicinity.  

A 1940 photograph showing the inside of the Tabernacle.

Four years later the first bridge was built from the mainland to the island and the vacationers began coming to the island community.  The original Taberncle has been replaced, but the replacement still reminds visitors and residents of Ocean City's long history and humble beginnings.  In 1904 Wesley Lake, one of the original founders of the town as well as the Tabernacle said that the tendency of the times was for people to vacation and they were gone for weeks .... and should not let the church stand idly by.  

An aerial photograph taken in the early 1950s.

The non-denominational Tabernacle was the answer for those vacationers.  During the early 20th century small plots were used for tents and small cottages to help build summer fellowship and to fund the programs of the Tabernacle.  It was on June 23, 1957 that the current Tabernacle was opened to welcome worshipers.  

The 1956 front of the Tabernacle before it was changed.

As I walked around the structure I admired the beauty of the building.  Recently an Ark was added to one side of the Tabernacle, geared toward the Christian education of the children of the community and visitors alike.  Check out the photos I snapped as well as some of the old photos of times past and you will get an idea as to the destiny of this Christian community.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

2009 Aerial photograph of the Tabernacle.

The Ark added to the side of the Tabernacle for the Christian education of children.

For those who choose to ride their bikes to church, there are artistic bike racks.

My artistic rendering of the front of the Tabernacle.