Holy Water Chapel floats through Venice on its way to Jacksonville

VENICE — A former wedding chapel that offered services in Tarpon Springs is making its way down the Intracoastal Waterway and is going through Venice on Wednesday.

Ultimately, it’s on its way to Jacksonville.

The trip could take anywhere from 12 to 22 days, depending on the weather and on bridges working, a worker on the floating chapel said. Around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the barge was floating near the Venice Avenue Bridge because the bride was having mechanical difficulties and wouldn’t open.

The chapel had been sold, with the new owner wanting it in Jacksonville. The last listed sales price was $300,000.

The chapel boasts 1,800 square feet, with 1,050 of that as living space, according to the website SpecialFinds.

“The floating chapel’s interior has been revamped to provide the luxuries of a home with an open-plan living room leading to a covered deck, a modern kitchen, and hardwood floors throughout,” the website states. “The former Chapel on the Bay includes a primary suite with an en-suite bathroom on the main level, a guest bathroom, and a loft bedroom upstairs.”

The chapel is designed to stay on the water.

“The Former Chapel on the Bay offers air conditioning and supplementary large fans,” the website states. “An eight-kilowatt generator powers the amenities, including a motion-dish satellite TV antenna. The floating chapel, designed by renowned naval architects Daniel J. Avoures and Associates, can be moved under its own power thanks to two Cummins Diesel engines.”