Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach reopens bookstore it closed during COVID
The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea has reopened The Bethesda Bookshop, which closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With offerings ranging from prayer books to architecture-based coffee table books as well as home décor, jewelry and Bethesda-by-the-Sea-branded merchandise, the renovated bookstore, which reopened March 31, serves as a welcoming center for visitors and parishioners alike, said the Rev. Tim Schenck, the church's rector.
“For me, the most important part about it is that it’s a hospitality hub right in the very center of our campus,” Schenck told the Daily News. “It’s a place where people can come in for spiritual nourishment and resources, and also just for some fun gifts.”
Rachel Supple, who serves on the church vestry and leads the bookshop’s all-volunteer staff, said the shop on the church's east side had existed for decades but with a comparably limited selection of items. It also was open only on Sundays, she said.
The Bethesda Bookshop is now open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.
The shop’s doors closed when COVID-19 arrived in March 2020. Plans for reopening remained in limbo, Schenck said, until he gathered a group of clergy members and parishioners at the start of the year to discuss the future of the shop. Some had experience working at a bookstore, others had retail experience, but all dreamed about reinvigorating the aging bookshop, Schenck said.
"To be able to offer people a place of beauty, refreshment, solace and inspiration is really important to me," he said. "The whole concept of this reimagined bookshop fits into our vision for what we see Bethesda-by-the-Sea being and doing in this community."
It wasn’t just parishioners who came to the church’s aid, Supple noted, as the contractor for the project, Patrick Tobin of Jupiter based-Tropi Celtic, completed most of the renovations free of charge, and even donated a considerable portion of the materials needed.
Supple, who helped design the new bookshop, said the renovation creates a welcoming environment for guests.
The bookshop’s children section is filled with a range of kid’s toys including stuffed animals, board games and an animal-stacking set made of wood. With few stores on the island catering to toys for young children, Supple said, the bookshop’s selection is a much-needed addition.
The children section also features a variety of books including prayer books, faith-based picture books and C.S. Lewis' fantasy novel series “The Chronicles of Narnia.” For adults, the selection of books include spiritual nonfiction works and novels, books on floral and architectural topics, and, of course, Palm Beach-focused coffee table books.
Supple noted that a significant portion of the coffee table books were written by parishioners and friends of the church. Those include "The Decorated Room," by West Palm Beach-based interior designer and resident Meg Braff, and "Designing Rooms with Joie De Vivre," by interior designer and Bethesda-by-the-Sea parishioner Amanda Reynal.
The shop also features an array of scented candles, jewelry, quirky greeting cards and cosmetic bags as well as home décor items and hostess gifts.
"We're just excited to be able to swing open the door and let people come in, and have conversations and hopefully buy some things," Schenck said. "And to have those spiritual resources, kind of what I call 'bread for the journey.'"
For more information on the Bethesda Bookshop, call 561-655-4554.
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach church reopens bookstore it closed during COVID
