Exploring the ABANDONED Shepherd of the Sea Chapel / Crystal Chapel (Groton, CT)

[@avmtg3549]

OMG I can't believe this came up in my feed. This was my church growing up. That's wild.

[@wowflower]

my old smoke spot! that 2 stair is where i first learned how to ollie!

[@melaniem3799]

It was beautiful chapel and so sad to see it this way. A lot of retirements, weddings, re-enlistments, changing of commands were held there. We are retired military and I use to go there for meetings with wife’s club. We are still in the area and drive by it a lot.

[@j-mass]

Such a shame that such a beautiful and meaningful building has deteriorated this much, and been destroyed so ferociously. At least you have great memories of your experiences there!

[@DrPhiliusnus77]

I’ve seen this place in pictures but this video really put its massive scale into proper perspective, nice vid J-Mass!

[@j-mass]

Yeah, it’s WAY bigger in person than it appears in photos. I had always seen images of it online, thinking it was pretty small-but nah, it’s huge! Thanks man!

[@snarklar]

It was easy and intact at first, then a lot of people started going, windows got broken, still not too bad, it got pretty crazy for a while, cops were on it, eventually stopped and then it got finished off and no one really cares anymore. Pretty common life cycle of abandoned places in easy to get to areas.

[@j-mass]

Unfortunately yes, that is the truth for many abandoned locations. I’ve been to many abandoned locations that have been absolutely decimated over the years-it’s quite sad to see.

[@X_black_bear_X]

beautiful design! i love the a-frame! sad to see all that vandalism tho.

[@j-mass]

Yeah the architecture is stunning; I bet it looked absolutely gorgeous before all of the vandalism and deterioration!

[@jlotoo850]

My childhood friend married a navy man there. I went to the wedding. (We grew up in Groton) It used to be so beautiful back then....

[@saraheumlauf1117]

Wow, that place seemed endless! Also, when you checked the reverb of the church by shouting.. 😂 adorable

[@j-mass]

LOL 😂 whenever I want to check for echoes or reverb, my go-to method is to shout something ridiculous!

[@NoahFaraday]

Oooo cant wait to watch this! Ive been looking to come here for so long. 40 minutes lets gooo!!

[@j-mass]

It’s such a dope spot dude, one of the coolest ones I’ve explored in Connecticut!

[@elvee7851]

Cool video as always - such a shame that it was abandoned and vandalized, it must have been really nice in its heyday. The way they tore that organ apart is disgusting. Thanks for sharing J Man!!

[@j-mass]

Thanks so much man! I agree, it was very saddening to see the state of destruction and disrepair inside of that chapel. I really can’t stand it when vandals come into places like these, just to break things.

[@carrierowley197]

This was a gorgeous chapel. A friend of mine was married here, not even all that long ago!

[@Sara-xk1ns]

Ive lived in Groton my entire life and have never heard this called Crystal Chapel.

[@PapawsDadillacOEMplus]

Same (also local)

[@snarklar]

Same same

[@jasontowstick8501]

Me too it's always been Shepard of the sea

[@johncampagna2113]

Came here to say the same thing and I’ve been here since 85

[@Sara-xk1ns]

@@johncampagna2113 I know you haha :)

[@SweatLaserXP]

10:35 those are the foot pedals for the pipe organ

[@PapawsDadillacOEMplus]

Local here. So that place has gone downhill a ton in just the past year. Cops don't patrol it as much, but will stop in if they see people in the parking lot. Wife's parents got married here in the 90s. Unfortunately their marriage turned out like the chapel. The organs more important and expensive pipe work was professionally removed years ago. What was left and ultimately destroyed was the cheaper easier to replace parts. Great video as always.

[@j-mass]

Thank you so much for the details! That really provides a new perspective on the place. Also, thank you for providing some clarity on that organ! While it still sucks that the organ was destroyed, I’m at least somewhat glad to hear that it was only the cheaper parts and nothing inherently valuable or rare.

[@PapawsDadillacOEMplus]

@j-mass I want to say it was for another church that had a similar organ, they were getting it for spare parts if I remember right.

[@seandoyle4125]

29:12 - "Poop Time" I appreciate somehow writing that so I know what the toilet is for. Lol very interesting place, seems like it's seen a fair bit of foot traffic.

[@j-mass]

Petition to change the colloquial name of “bathrooms” to “poop time chambers” 🗳️ lol yeah, this place is definitely pretty ran-through

[@PixieDustedTara]

I live down the road from Shepard of the sea! Groton is soooo boring! Great video!

[@j-mass]

Thank you! 🙌

[@samchapple6363]

That’s just depressing.. live in the area

[@AustinT247]

Whoever destroyed that organ is going to hell

[@j-mass]

Could not agree more; destroying that organ is so disrespectful.

[@justincarroll4859]

Hi! This was the church I attended for many years. I can confirm that the school building was specifically used for Sunday School. The big room you see right as you enter it was the Pre-School/Childcare room for babies and young children while their parents attended services and taught Sunday School.

[@justincarroll4859]

And I also knew it specifically as Shepherd of the Sea.

[@j-mass]

Wow, thank you so much for the details on this place! I had a feeling that the school was specifically meant for Sunday School activities and for childcare, so I appreciate you confirming this!

[@justincarroll4859]

@@j-mass no problem! I also meant to mention earlier that the building on the opposite side of the parking lot was not actually part of the church. It was the housing office for the Navy before the homes were bought out by a corporation.

[@HymnsfromHistory]

10:40 This is part of the organ, as is most of that wood (belonging to the wooden pipes). That is the organ pedal board, which appears to have been thrown down from the balcony.

[@HymnsfromHistory]

19:44 is the blower room that feeds air into the organ pipes.

[@j-mass]

@HymnsfromHistory Wow, interesting information. Thank you so much! I’m not too familiar with organs, and how they operate, so I’m happy to learn a bit more about that!

[@julianmalcolm]

Too bad it’s been so badly vandalized. It’s a neat relic of the past. Awesome video! Also may I note this is the first relatively intact church you visited. I think you have a video of an old stone church that was mostly gutted.

[@j-mass]

You’re right, I actually completely forgot about that while filming this lol! Yep, I visited the Old Stone Church in West Boylston. The structure itself was intact, but it was completely empty inside.

[@arynvincent9751]

My parents married here many years ago. Sad how it looks now. Was so beautiful , Shepard of the Sea!!!!

[@GilliganMatt]

GREAT video J-MASS

[@j-mass]

Ayy thanks so much man, I appreciate the support! 🙏

[@BrianSylvestri-ko8ei]

Great video of that chapel in Groton CT

[@j-mass]

Thanks so much man, I appreciate that! Such a cool site! 🙌

[@BrianSylvestri-ko8ei]

@j-mass. I have been by it. Never explored it

[@idrum677]

That’s the best pedal board for the organ

[@urbexmagic4170]

How did you say "massive organ" and not break out in laughter?

[@j-mass]

LOL didn’t even consider that in the moment 😂

[@The_Fancave]

Wow, that was awesome! I'm sure that sanctuary was beautiful in it's heyday! I can actually appreciate graffiti if there is an artistic element to it, but the usual ethnic slurs and phallic symbols spray painted to buildings are just vandalism as far as I'm concerned. It breaks my heart to see those organ pipes strewn about. Some people will destroy anything I guess. On a side note; Thank you kindly for getting some footage of the ceiling fans, (my lifelong obsession). Those are called the "Leading Edge" made by Dayton. They are a 56" industrial fan manufactured in Thailand from the early 90's to present day. Just curious; did the Crystal Chapel have any ceiling fans? Keep up the good work, Sir!

[@j-mass]

Thank you so much! I absolutely agree with you about the graffiti; I appreciate the great work with artistic effort put behind it, but I loathe all the offensive and haphazard “scribbling”. Also, very interesting note about the ceiling fans! I believe those ceiling fans were first used by Shepherd of the Sea Chapel, and then simply transferred over to Crystal Chapel following the 2016 auction. Thanks again!

[@1provoid657]

For the first name of the church, the title says "Shepherd of the Seal Chapel" But, you say and in the description it says "Shepherd of the Sea Chapel" What is the correct name for the first use of the church?

[@j-mass]

Oh whoops, thank you so much for pointing out that error! It’s supposed to be “Sea”, not “Seal” LOL 😂 thanks for the heads up, will fix the title right now!

[@emmanuelmcdaddie5165]

3:00 church 21:06 school 34:56 community center

[@j-mass]

Thank you! 🙏

[@MikeWaddel17againILLUMINATI]

UrbanX now UrbanX forever!❤😂

[@stevenfromer3816]

All that damage in the last five years? Disgusting

[@j-mass]

Agreed-it’s absolutely depressing to see how bad the damage is.

[@mariamathis6184]

I was married twice in this church, I will look up pictures and post them…

[@nicholasdragonas6315]

Who should I speak with about repurposing that spectacular wood on the interior of the A-frame?

[@j-mass]

I wish I knew! wish this place could be renovated and refurbished! It’s quite damaged, but I think it could be fixed and brought back anew!

[@corekilla]

This property was just recently up for sale, and sold and bought; you can probably look up city records

[@-marino2782]

I live close by my entire life. I never heard of this so i am guessing this was for the Navy sailors and thier families. All those houses you pass on the way to this church, thats all navy housing

[@mark950-d7d]

The Shepard of the Sea was built to serve the Navy community and abuts Navy housing. The bad eggs, most likely under the influence of alcohol and drugs have vandalized this church. What other illegal activities have taken place there? "We don't care... nobody cares...." I am so angry. When the Thresher and Scorpion were lost this church was so very important and now it is lost.

[@nickp978]

Are you associated with JBMASS?

[@nickp978]

Have you explored seaside sanatorium in Waterford'/New london?

[@j-mass]

Hmm, not familiar with JBMASS personally. And I have visited Seaside Sanatorium before, but I have not yet explored the inside! Someday!

[@organbuilder272]

You are close - It is the pedal board from the console laying on its back in the balcony (Gallery). That was likely an Austin organ. The lumber on the main floor are the 16' Pedal Bourdon from the organ. A three manual organ like this would likely have cost around 600,000 dollars. How stupid can the fools be that would damage such a thing - a massive musical instrument. This is the fate of the intellectual values of the USA after diaper don gets through with it.

[@j-mass]

Thank you so much for the details! I truly appreciate that, and it sheds a new light on this instrument for me. Agreed-destroying such a beautiful piece of artistic expression is downright evil.

[@idrum677]

You should explore your Catholic heritage.

[@idrum677]

Kneelers

[@mark950-d7d]

XYZ