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Whether you're a resident, visitor or newcomer, you have hundreds of worship options on the Crystal Coast. You can attend a service, admire the architecture or learn about local history by visiting the local churches. Many of the area's community activities and volunteer efforts are spearheaded by local houses of worship.

Churches are around every corner, but that's not unusual for an area many refer to as the "Southern Bible Belt." Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal churches predominate. Episcopal, Presbyterian, Friends, Unitarian/Universalist and Catholic churches are also represented, along with many other denominations. Visitors who choose to worship at a synagogue may visit Temple B'Nai Sholem Synagogue, 505 Middle Street, New Bern.

Many of the area's oldest churches are in Beaufort. For the most part, these are wooden structures preserved to look just as they did hundreds of years ago. Each church is distinct — some are modern structures, some are classic brick designs, others are weathered and vine-covered. Each has its own legends and stories held dear by its congregation.

It's not possible for us to list the hundreds of worship centers located around the Crystal Coast. We have described a few of the churches that are noted for their historic buildings, the sizes of their congregations or their convenient locations. For more information about other churches in the area, check the Yellow Pages or the Friday evening edition of the Carteret County News-Times, where you will find a directory of local churches.

Ann Street United Methodist Church, on Ann and Craven Streets in Beaufort, (252) 728-4279, was built c. 1854. The church features curved wooden pews, beautiful stained-glass windows and hand-carved rosettes in the ceiling. The steeple, stretching high above the houses on the low coastal land, was shown on old mariners' charts as a point of reference, a beacon to aid those at sea. It is one of three churches surrounding the Old Burying Ground (see our Crystal Coast Attractions chapter). The church's modern educational building stands across the street and is used for community events.

Purvis Chapel AME Zion Church, 217 Craven Street, (252) 504-2605, is Beaufort's oldest continuously used church. Built in 1820, it stands on the same block as the Ann Street United Methodist Church. Originally built by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Purvis Chapel was later deeded to the AME Zion congregation and is still owned by that group. The church's bell was cast in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1797. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1998 the Purvis Chapel was recognized with a second Kathryn Cloud Historical Preservation Award. The church you see today, though modified somewhat, closely resembles the original structure.

The area's oldest Episcopal church is St. Paul's, c. 1857, located at 209 Ann Street, (252) 728-3324, in Beaufort. Local shipbuilders built the church in two years. Visitors will notice that the interior of the sanctuary bears a striking resemblance to an upside-down ark. It is reported to be one of the ten most acoustically perfect buildings in North Carolina. Holy Eucharist is on Sunday and a midweek Eucharist is conducted each Wednesday.

St. Stephen's United Church of Christ, 500 Cedar Street, Beaufort, (252) 728-4918, was built in 1867, along with the neighboring two-story school building that housed the Washburn Seminary. Records show the lot was purchased for $100 in 1867, and the seminary served as a school for many years. St. Stephen's pews are the original dark mahogany and still have the center railing that separated families and Sunday school groups. Through the years, no major modifications have been made to the church's exterior.

The First Baptist Church of Morehead City, 810 Bridges Street, (252) 726-4142, is one of the town's oldest churches. The congregation first met in July 1873 and originally shared a small building near the waterfront with the town's Methodists. After the Civil War, the congregation built the current structure. An adjacent 18,000-square-foot Family Life Center was dedicated in 1994 and is available for community activities, meetings and weddings.

Located at 900 Arendell Street in Morehead City, the First United Methodist Church, (252) 726-7102, was founded in 1879 but has roots that go back to Shepard's Point in 1800. Today's sanctuary was dedicated in 1952.

St. Egbert's Catholic Church, 1706 Evans Street, (252) 726-3559, had its start in Morehead City in 1929. Community service is an important part of this church, and support and Bible study groups regularly meet in church facilities. Parish services are offered Saturday and Sunday, and mass is held daily. The church also operates a private school for students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

The Unitarian Coastal Fellowship, 1300 Evans Street in Morehead City, was organized in Carteret County in 1980 and promotes religious diversity. Services are held in the fellowship hall on Sundays at 10:30 AM. Religious education and child care are available. Call (252) 240-2283 for more information.

Glad Tidings Pentecostal Holiness Church, 4621 Country Club Road in Morehead City, (252) 726-0160, grew from a 1930s tent revival. In 1997 the church dedicated a 20,000-square-foot worship and outreach center, which seats 1,200 and features a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and a catwalk for theatrical and musical productions. The building also contains a main floor with a balcony, a bridal-hospitality room for weddings and welcoming first-time visitors, and a bookstore, Inspiration Station. Glad Tidings has a 10,000-square-foot family life center, with a large open area, classrooms, a kitchen and offices. The center is available for weddings, conferences and meetings.