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Photo courtesy Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

Photo courtesy Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church

Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, Manteo, NC

One of the Outer Banks' lovely churches!

by Betsy Haas | March 29, 2010

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The Outer Banks is blessed with a plethora of lovely historic churches. Many of our churches were built in the 1800s and are still open today. The Methodist Episcopal Church (now the United Methodist Church) sent circuit-rider preachers to the Banks to plant quite a number of little churches up and down the islands. One of the prettiest is Mt. Olivet UMC, located in historic downtown Manteo.

This church was built in 1887 on a parcel of land that was purchased for $26.50(!). The original wooden church was constructed for $1,500(!!) and had a vestibule, sanctuary, two small side rooms, and a steeple. Classrooms and a choir loft were added in 1907; an educational building and more land were added in 1947, and in 1982 and '83 a major enlargement and renovation took place. The walls of the sanctuary were bumped out and a new narthex was added. The original stained glass windows were removed and restored, and additional windows were added. A tremendous pipe organ was added in 2005.

Architects Stephens and Francis were awarded the Dumont Award for their renovation of Mt. Olivet.

Today the sanctuary is a gorgeous mix of polished hardwoods sporting christian symbols, colorful stained glass windows, and beautiful fabrics that add texture to the sanctuary. The tops of kneeling cushions on the altar are needlepointed with christian symbols and the pulpit and lecturn are adorned with tapestry paraments that reflect the liturgical seasons. The gleaming brass pipes from the organ rise magestically from the back wall, adding warmth to the chancel area.

Mt. Olivet is lovely for another reason; its congregation. My husband and I have worshipped there several times and every time we go, we are warmly greeted by the people seated around us and by the pastor, Rev. Jerry Cribb. We never feel like strangers at Mt. Olivet. It is obvious from the first visit that this lively congregation is fully involved in community missions, outreach and discipling ministries. Mt. Olivet sponsors and supports youth mission work teams, the Creative Choices Crisis Pregnancy Center, a home for women and their children who are in transition, the Community Care Clinic of Dare which provides medical care for uninsured residents, a Children's Home, a program for drug and alcohol addicts, a program that provides weekend meals for Dare County elementary students who receive free meals at school, a food pantry, and an after school homework and tutoring program.

Absolutely lovely, outside and in.

Mt Olivet United Methodist Church
300 Ananias Dare Street
Manteo, NC 27954-9374
(252) 473-2089

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Betsy Haas

Betsy Park Haas was a regular traveler to the Outer Banks for 25 years before… more





Outer Banks churches, Methodist churches, historic churches, Manteo church, pipe organ, ministry, missions, community missions, stained glass windows, United Methodist



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