Famous chapel damaged by Hurricane Helene – but the cross still stands

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – Pretty Place Chapel, a well-known South Carolina landmark located in northern Greenville County, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene’s strong winds.

But one thing is still standing: the cross.

Videos of the chapel show large sections of the roof and support beams gone, but the cross at the front of the chapel remains upright and seemingly undamaged.

The church’s pews also largely remain intact.

In a Facebook post, officials with Pretty Place Chapel wrote, “We were awe-struck to find that, despite the horrible damage done to the chapel, the wooden cross still stands as a symbol of hope.”

The chapel is a popular wedding venue. All weddings are canceled through 2024.

One bride-to-be posted in a Facebook comment, “October 19th is our date. Upset about the closing but devastated more about all of the loss.”

Nicholas Patton, director of operations at Pretty Place Chapel, said they are committed to repairing the damage, but it is going to take a lot of time to rebuild.

“Unfortunately, we have seen a lot of damage down here today,” Patton said in a video, in part. “… We will be working for the next long while, unforeseen future, to restore Pretty Place to its natural beauty.”

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