Husband Surprises Wife By Building A Chapel In The Backyard
November 23, 2016
Usually wives don't applaud dishonesty from their husbands. But when Jon Richards told his wife, Muriel, a little white lie, it was for a good reason. He said he was building himself a shed. But really, this sweet husband surprised his wife with her very own backyard chapel. And the finished product is spectacular!
Jon and Muriel live in a lovely village in England. Jon, being a loving a devoted husband, wanted to do something special for Muriel. "She" sheds have been gaining popularity as a counter to the "man cave."
RELATED: The emerging trend of "she" sheds is a way to turn forgotten space into a tiny oasis
But with faith being so important to this couple, Jon had a better idea. He'd give his wife her very own, personal place of worship. And the lawn behind their home was just large enough for Jon to house his labor of love for Muriel -- the backyard chapel they've since named the "Chapel of the Crosses."
"It was a gift for my wife - I wanted somewhere sacred and special for her," he said.
Backyard Chapel: The Ruse
In order to get started on the project, Jon needed a cover story. So, he convinced his wife he was building himself a proper shed -- one with enough "space for a radio." But really, the devoted husband was building a miniature version of the church where the couple worships on Sundays!
RELATED: Wife posts a tribute to her hardworking farmer husband
Jon settled on plans for a 12ft by 8ft structure. These measurements would allow him to construct the building without first getting planning permission. He then went to work on the passion project that would wind up taking two and a half years to complete!
Credit: Caters News AgencyBackyard Chapel: The Jig Is Up
For much of the construction, Muriel truly believed her husband was working on a shed. But when it came time for the stained glass windows, she got wise.
Credit: Caters News Agency"It was a surprise for Muriel and at the beginning I just told her I was building a bigger shed," Jon recalled. "But the game was up when we started fitting the gothic windows."
But now that the cat was out of the bag, Muriel was able to join her husband in perfecting the tiny house of worship!
RELATED: Man builds an amazing tree church
Backyard Chapel: Finishing Up
Once the structure was completed, Jon and Muriel scoured the countryside, finding reclaimed religious artifacts -- from pews, to tapestries and prayer books -- to decorate the inside of the chapel.
Credit: Caters News Agency"Everything in the chapel was previously used in a church and that’s what makes it special," said Jon.
Backyard Chapel: The Centerpiece
At the center of the altar is a beautiful, bronze statue of Jesus. It's a piece Jon and Muriel initially passed over.
Credit: Caters News Agency"Never realising the price of solid bronze, we were shocked that he wanted so much for it and so we left it there thinking we’d be able to find something else for the altar," Jon said.
But this particular centerpiece was meant to be!
"In all our travelling around we never found anything that was suited and so we went back to the dealer in Bristol," Jon continued. "When we told him what we were doing he was so touched that he knocked lots off the price. He said that a small chapel was where a statue of Christ deserved to be."
Backyard Chapel: Finished At Last
With everything just as it should be, the couple chose the name the Chapel of the Crosses.
"At Easter there is a procession though the village and we place three crosses on the hill where we live - that’s why we named it the Chapel of the Crosses," Jon explained.
They invited their local clergyman, Reverend Andy Shearn, over to see the finished chapel. Reverend Shearn was so impressed, he suggested the couple host occassional services there. Jon and Muriel were more than happy to oblige, and Reverend Shearn now holds several mid-week services at the backyard chapel a year. They are usually standing room only, since the pews offer seating for just 12 worshippers.
Jon isn't sure of exactly how much he spent on the project. But believe it or not, he's pretty sure it's no more than £10,000 (around $12,000 UDS). And the amazing gift, which Jon has described as the "most calming place," was well worth it!
Credit: Caters News AgencyWouldn't you just love to see this chapel in person? Be sure to share this story with your friends so they can see the photos of this incredible labor of love!
h/t: Daily Mail
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for a Thankful Heart through a Disappointing Season - Your Daily Prayer - November 22
I pray you will open your eyes to God today while he holds your hand and heart through all the hard stuff surrounding you. Let’s choose thankfulness. It absolutely does help, dear friend.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for a Thankful Heart through a Disappointing Season - Your Daily Prayer - November 22
I pray you will open your eyes to God today while he holds your hand and heart through all the hard stuff surrounding you. Let’s choose thankfulness. It absolutely does help, dear friend.
Past Stories
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Matthew West | '18 Summers' (acoustic)
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
CCM Magazine Oak Ridge Boys Singer William Lee Golden Shares How Group Has Navigated Recent Loss and Grief
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Inspires with Powerful 'Stand' Lyric Video Performance
CCM Magazine Josh Baldwin | 'Thank You Jesus' (acoustic)
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.