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It depicts a dead child arriving in heaven. The wall behind the altar is filled with Sam's crowning work, Hallelujah Square. No babies cry ('They never do,' said our guide). Many people, our guide said, have had religious experiences in this chapel based on collectible figurines. Two baby angels with flashlights portray the biblical passage, 'And God said, 'Let there be light.'' Several baby angels, including two black angels, play basketball with the Earth.

Our group gazed at the Precious Moments paintings, covering nearly every interior surface of the chapel, 'over 5,000 square feet of fine art,' said our guide. Butcher?' - the Butchers are divorced and she lives out of state - and, 'What color is his dog?') (The guide told us that the two most asked questions on Precious Moments tours are, 'Where's Mrs. Butcher,' said our guide, 'would deliberately tear most of the major seams in his clothing, leaving room enough to freely climb.' The guide tells the story behind Sam's labors: how he spent more than 500 hours on his back atop a 35-foot-high scaffold painting 75 baby angels on the ceiling. Groups stroll a cement pathway lined with waist-high baby angel statues, many of them dedicated to dead children. Walking tours of the chapel leave the mini-mall every hour (Visiting the Precious Moments Chapel is a breeze compared to the Sistine Chapel).

But what remains is still free, and its centerpiece is still the Precious Moments Chapel. In 2007 most of the park's ancillary attractions were closed. The sands of time (and changes in public taste) eventually slowed the juggernaut that was Precious Moments. With money pouring in from his collectibles empire, he surrounded his chapel with acres of parklike land, a Precious Moments museum, a convention center, a performing 'Fountain of Angels' that featured live musical acts, a 'Wedding Island' where visitors could get married, and a mini-mall of Precious Moments gift shops. Sam spent four years painting the chapel, then opened it to the public. Its interior has been painted by Butcher with biblical murals and frescoes - not Michelangelo masterpieces, but cartoon art populated with bulb-headed Precious Moments children. Learn more about the Chapel Loyalty Program.The spot turned out to be just outside of Carthage, Missouri, and the masterpiece - inspired by the Sistine Chapel in Rome - is the Precious Moments Chapel.

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Earn up to $35 off a future purchase with the redemption of a full Loyalty Program card. Online Gift Shoppe | Chapel Exclusives | Chapel Loyalty Program | Contact UsĮarn Valuable Discounts with The Precious Moments Chapel Loyalty ProgramĮach purchase of $35 of Precious Moments® or Ne’Qwa Art® merchandise from the Precious Moments Chapel Gift Shoppe (in-person, phone and online) earns one Chapel Loyalty Program Sticker.

The Precious Moments Gift Shoppe in the Visitor Center houses the largest collection of Precious Moments® branded merchandise under one roof! From figurines, musicals and ornaments to apparel, dolls and stuffed animals, we’re your one-stop-shop for all things Precious Moments! In addition to being the home of the Precious Moments Gift Shoppe, the Visitor Center boasts another can’t-miss attraction! The 13-foot tall replica of one of the Original 21 Precious Moments figurines, Make A Joyful Noise, is the perfect backdrop for family photos marking your visit to the Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens. Clever Precious Moments animated dolls “repair” the rooftops, peer down from open windows, and entertain visitors. Take a break on one of the wooden picnic tables or relax in the gazebo adjacent to the ample parking lot.Ī few steps along the faux cobblestone path inside the Precious Moments Visitor Center guests are treated to the sights of a charming European village. Walking paths lined with bright-colored flowers lead past two stately bronze horses to a breathtaking fountain of angels. The beauty and peace of the Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens is first experienced in the parking lot of the Visitor Center. Welcome to the Precious Moments Visitor Center