Leadership & Pianist

Corolla Chapel's Leadership & Pianist

RICK GRIFFIS, PASTOR

Pastor Rick met his lovely wife Laura in 1975 while in college at Morehead State University. They both came to know Jesus in 1976 and were married by the end of that year. Two years later they moved to the Hampton Roads Virginia area, where Rick began a career in Information Technology. He sensed the call to the ministry in those early years during and after college. Even though he held several senior level management positions over the years, he was never truely content. He began taking steps that would allow him to achieve his passion for ministry and was finally ordained into the minsitry in 1998 with the Evangelical Church Alliance (ECA). ECA International is an alliance of ministers serving throughout the world since 1887. Since his ordination he has ministered in a variety of venues until he finally settled into serving in full time ministry here at Corolla Chapel in January 2008.

NORRIS AUSTIN

Norris Austin is a native Corolla resident and has lived in Corolla longer than any other Corolla resident. He is the youngest grandson of William Riley Austin. William was one of the lighthouse keepers from 1891 to 1928 when he retired.

Norris’ parents were John W. Austin and Virginia Tillett Austin. His father and he both served as postmasters of Corolla. John W. was postmaster for 24 years, and Norris served for 33 years before retiring.

John W. and his family always went to Corolla Chapel to worship. It was suppose to be a chapel, but someone had it dedicated as a Missionary Baptist church. It was on the Missionary Baptist circuit, much to the chagrin and displeasure of most of the congregation. During the depression the Baptist dropped Corolla Chapel from their circuit.

It was used by visiting ministers occasionally. In 1950-51 Rupert Duncan was a teacher at the one room school house down the street. He was a preacher in Chesapeake Virginia and taught school during the week. He started a Wednesday night prayer meeting, which drew a fairly large attendance. After 1951 use of the chapel began to wane, with occasional visits from a variety of ministers.

The owner of the chapel’s property fail to stay current in paying taxes, resulting in the property being put up for sale for back taxes. Norris’ father was informed that someone was trying to obtain the chapel in order to turn it into a cottage. John W. was the last living trustee, so he had to first right of refusal to procure the property. He decided to pay the taxes and take possession of the chapel. John W. added a new roof and he and Mrs. Austin kept the chapel in repair waiting for the day it would be used once again.

After some time Mrs. Austin passed away. By this time John W. was getting along in years and his health staring to ebb. He knew that one day that the outside world would discover what a wonderful place Corolla is and that the community would grow. He decided to give the chapel to Norris with the proviso that he would give the building to the congregation and that it had to always be an inter-denominational chapel so that all Christians, regardless of their distinctions, would have a place to worship here in Corolla.

DON CHEEK

ED COX

FRANK KARKUFF

NANCY KARKUFF

BERNIE MANCUSO

E-mail: bernie@mancusodevelopment.com

ANNIE PONTON

JACK RIGGLE

E-mail: jack@jackandcarolriggle.com

Pianist: Sally Wright

Sally Wright was the second student to receive the Master of Music Degree in Piano Pedagogy from Florida State University, and holds the Bachelor of Music Degree from East Carolina University in Piano Performance and Pedagogy with a minor in organ. She is a nationally certified teacher through MTNA. She has been active in the American College of Musicians for 35 years as a student, judge, chairperson and founder of three centers (Tallahassee, FL, Norfolk Academy, and currently Old Dominion University). Among awards received through the National Piano Guild Auditions as a student member, she received the Irl Allison (15 year), Paderewski (10 year), Sonata, Sonatina, Early and Late Bach Awards. She is in the Guild Hall of Fame.

Sally started her early training with her mother, Betty Copeland, at the age of five. Other area teachers and mentors included Mrs. Yvonne Dawson of the Paris Conservatory and Mr. Bristow Hardin. She was selected by Charles Hardin to be a student harpsichordist for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation from 1979-1983. She has taught piano, theory and ear training at the college level for Old Dominion University and Virginia Wesleyan College and was selected as a graduate assistant for Florida State University. Sally has performed on the East Coast and in Europe for masterclasses and recitals.

A church musician for many years, she is currently the pianist for the historic Corolla Chapel at the Outer Banks.

Corolla Chapel

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