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St. Andrew’s By-The-Sea is undergoing major renovations to its 109-year-old chapel, funded by the Charles Whedbee Endowment Fund managed by the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF).

Work began January 2, 2025, on the original oceanfront chapel. The project includes restoring the windows to historical standards, replacing window shutters, enlarging the front porch, replacing and repainting the chapel doors and reinforcing ADA access.

“They pulled off the cedar shakes that needed to be replaced and discovered the original pine shiplap from the original chapel in 1916. It almost felt a little archeological,” said St. Andrew’s-By-The-Sea Rector Nathan Finnin. “Every little bit of work you do pulls back a little piece of history, and it was a great reminder of what builders on the Outer Banks were able to do 110 years ago. I have never worked at a church that has been as connected to its history as this one.”

The chapel has served many purposes since 1849, when it was a summer residence for Episcopal congregations from northeastern North Carolina. During the Civil War, it was used as a shelter for runaway slaves.

Consecrated as St. Andrew’s-By-The-Sea in 1916, the church was originally soundside, but was moved to its current beachside location in 1937.

By Easter Sunday 2025, the congregation expects to return to the restored chapel, supported by the fund created by Charles Whedbee.

The full Outer Banks Community Foundation story by Emmy Trivette about the Charles Whedbee Endowment Fund can be found online at obcf.org/st-andrews-whedbee-fund/.

Whedbee, from Greenville, was a judge, television host, writer and lifelong visitor to the Outer Banks. His books, including Blackbeard’s Cup and Other Stories of the Outer Banks and Outer Banks Mysteries and Seaside Stories, now help preserve the chapel through the fund.

The fund was established in 1997 through Rachel Whedbee’s will, directing book royalties to chapel repairs.

“The way we kind of talk about it colloquially inside the church is that if we were to pick up the chapel, and turn it upside down, and shake it, anything that didn’t fall out we could use the Whedbee fund for,” said Finnin.

According to church treasurer Teresa Osborne, the fund grew from $125,000 to $430,000 by 2024. The current $250,000 project will leave $180,000 for future restoration.

“It has never been easier for you to make a real impact in our community! At the Outer Banks Community Foundation, there are countless ways to get involved in philanthropy, and one of the simplest and most effective is by creating a donor-advised fund,” stated an OBCF news release. “Start your journey today and make a lasting difference in the lives of those around us.”

For more information about creating a fund, go to OBCF.org.

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