Viking Magazine - September 2019 - 26

5,000 couples from the Black Hills and
the surrounding region have exchanged
vows there.
A daylong celebration on July 6
commemorated the chapel's 50th
anniversary with a Scandinavian arts
and crafts fair and a celebration picnic.
The highlight of the day was a service
of rededication of the chapel's ministry
and an Affirmation of Vows ceremony
for couples who had wed there. Among
those attending were Kim and Dennis
Schrader, who were married at the
Chapel in the Hills almost 40 years ago.
" We were in high school when we
were planning our
wedding and found
the Chapel in the
Hills while driving
around, " Kim says.
" We both agreed
it was the most
beautiful place
we'd ever seen. "
The chapel
grounds were
the ideal setting
for their special
day, and over the
years they have
returned regularly
to see how it has
Also in attendance were Seth and
Corrine Thompson from Gillette, Wyo.
While their wedding was only a few
years ago, the young couple knew they
wanted to be part of the celebration as
well and traveled 150 miles to be there.
" We were excited to be a part of
something bigger than just us and
our day, " Seth says. " The idea of so
many couples of different generations
and walks of life coming together
with this one mutual connection was
awe-inspiring. "
Indiana
Based on a church in Oslo,
the St. Swithun Stav Kirk in
Warren County is a roadside
attraction that once held
Vikings events, weddings,
baptisms and more. Reverend
and local farmer Grover
Williams built the three-tiered,
half-scale model by hand in
This year was a milestone for the
Chapel in the Hills. While there were
several who came
specifically to join in
the celebration, the
mission and goal has
never been about
drawing big crowds.
This, perhaps, is
part of its enduring
appeal; it is unlike
any other Black Hills
attraction.
Borgund Stavkirke in
Lærdal, Norway.
changed. When the couple learned about
the anniversary celebration, they knew
they had to be there.
" It was the perfect way to celebrate
our marriage, " Kim says. " All three of
our children and their families joined
us, along with our two best friends, our
attendants and our five grandkids. We
were so happy to be there. "
" Something
magical happens
when you drive
through the entrance
gate, " Brian says.
" People come for
what they think will be a routine tourist
stop, and then become entranced by
the chapel and the grounds. They
linger, relax, slow down and take in the
peacefulness of the area. The spiritual
significance of the chapel, combined
with the beautiful landscape, allows
people to rest and experience the
presence of God. "
The Chapel in the Hills is located at 3788 Chapel Lane in
Rapid City, S.D., and is open from May 1 to Sept. 30.
For more information, visit chapel-in-the-hills.org or
call 605-342-8281.
26 VIKING SEPTEMBER 2019 sonsofnorway.com
1985 to honor his wife Millie's
Scandinavian heritage. It's
currently not open for tours.
North Dakota
Located in the Scandinavian
Heritage Park in Minot,
Gol Stave Church opened in
2000. It's a full-size recreation
of the 13th century Gol Stave
Church at Bygdøy in Oslo.
While it doesn't hold regular
church services, it's used for
weddings and
other special events.
scandinavianheritage.org,
701-852-9161
PHOTO BY XIMONIC (SIMO RÄSÄNEN)
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, FAR LEFT), BY HUW WILLIAMS, BY RICHARD PURINTON, COURTESY OF BOYNTON CHAPEL / LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY, BY CHENSIYUAN, COURTESY ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DAVIN WAIT / HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER OF CLAY COUNTY, SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE PARK

http://www.chapel-in-the-hills.org http://www.scandinavianheritage.org http://www.sonsofnorway.com

Viking Magazine - September 2019

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