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 wish to worship at a synagogue may visit Temple B'Nai Sholem Synagogue, 505 Middle Street, New Bern.

Many of the 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 to members of its congregation.

It would be impractical to list the hundreds of worship centers scattered around the Crystal Coast. We have described a few of the most noted churches, whether that is because of the building's age, size of the congregation or convenient location.

For more information about other churches in the area, check the Yellow Pages or the Friday evening edition of the Carteret County News-Times.

Ann Street United Methodist Church, Ann and Craven streets, Beaufort, was built c. 1854. The church features curved wooden pews, beautiful stained-glass windows and handcarved rosettes in the ceiling. The steeple of the church, 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, is Beaufort's oldest continuously-used church. Built in 1820, it stands on the same block as the Ann Street 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 bell in the church was cast in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1797. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The area's oldest Episcopal church is St. Paul's, c. 1857, located at 209 Ann Street 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 10 most acoustically perfect buildings in North Carolina. Holy Eucharist is on Sunday and a midweek Eucharist is conducted each Wednesday.

St. Stephen's Congregational Church, Craven and Cedar Streets, Beaufort, 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.

Morehead City's First Baptist Church is one of the town's oldest churches. It is located at Ninth and Bridges Streets. The congregation originally shared a small building near the waterfront with the town's Methodists. After the Civil War, the congregation built the current structure. The 18,000-square-foot family life center at First Baptist Church is available for community activities, meetings and weddings. The center can handle activities such as basketball games, parties and dinners for as many as 800 people. A light and sound system allows for high-quality concerts.

Standing on the corner of Ninth and Arendell Streets in Morehead, the First United Methodist Church is home to one of the oldest Methodist congregations in eastern North Carolina. The church congregation's roots go back to Shepard's Point in 1797. The original chapel was built in 1879 and later was converted to a bakery by the Union Army in 1862. Today's sanctuary was dedicated in 1952.

St. Egbert's Catholic Church, located at 1612 Evans Street, had its start in Morehead in the early 1920s. The church now has its own school for students from kindergarten through 6th grade. In late 1991 extensive renovations were completed with additions to the church and parish house. Community service is emphasized, with support groups regularly meeting in church facilities. Parish services are offered Saturday and Sunday, and Mass is held on various weekdays.

The Unitarian Universalist Coastal Fellowship, at 1300 Evans Street, Morehead City, was organized in Carteret County in 1980. It has grown to a congregation with about 90 members. From May through September, services are held every Sunday at 10:30 AM in a renovated building that features a fellowship hall, kitchen and religious education rooms. In the off-season, services are held every other Sunday at 10:30 AM.