Chapel in the Hills

Finding The Chapel in the Hills on the outskirts of Rapid City, South Dakota was a complete fluke. Mom is a big reader of all things informative when it comes to visiting new locations and she was the one who found this treasure. After a long day of traveling through Custer State Park, on Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road, we decided to stop here just before supper.

Modeled after the Borgund Stavkirke in Laerdal, Norway, the chapel found a home in Rapid City to be a broadcasting location for the Lutheran Vespers radio program in 1969. Though the radio program is no long broadcast, the Lutheran church still holds a nightly vespers service in the chapel. It is run by volunteers and the chapel's sole source of income is donations from visitors. The managers live on site and the Lutheran church pays for their benefits.
The atmosphere was very much like a monastery campus. The grounds were immaculately manicured and the surroundings were aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and ears. Behind the chapel was a prayer walk path and a courtyard for gatherings. The interior was simply furnished with a homemade wooden altar and low benches. Yet doorways and woodwork were quite ornate with regards to carvings.

An old log cabin constructed by a Norwegian was moved to the property to become a museum.

A stabbur, a grass-roofed storehouse, was constructed in Oslo and transported to Rapid City to become The Chapel in the Hills' gift shop and visitor's center.

It is quite interesting and moving to see how different cultures and faiths worship and honor God. It was clear to me that He was present in this place. The grounds exuded peace and the structures seemed to be crafted by hands of love. Each carved image, rounded corner piece and triangular shingle reflected a talent that was joyfully given to God. It created a craving to find some time to just be, wait and watch God work in the world and in the lives of people around me.