A church has become an internet sensation after hundreds of people have flocked to see the face of a chicken within its walls.

一座教堂因为外形酷似一张小鸡的“脸”而成为网络热点，引来许多游客蜂拥而至，只为一睹这张萌脸。

With its large round windows resembling two eyes and roof tiles appearing as a beak, the so-called 'chicken church' is attracting an expanding fan club online.

教堂的圆形窗户就像是两只大眼睛，屋檐的瓦片形状有些像尖嘴，这个教堂被大家戏称为“鸡仔教堂”，吸引了很多网友关注，还为它组成了粉丝团，而且数量还在不断扩大。

The congregation at the Church by the Sea in Tampa Bay, Florida, say they regularly see passers-by stopping to get a memento of the unusual-looking building.

这座教堂坐落于美国佛罗里达州的坦帕湾，教堂会众表示，经常看到路过的人驻足欣赏这个外型特别的建筑。

Its birdlike appearance is completed by the roof that spreads out like red wings.

教堂的屋顶延伸出去，看上去仿佛红色的翅膀，让这种教堂的整体外观更像一只小鸟。

Threads have appeared online dedicated to the building with hundreds of users wanting to find out more about the 'Chicken Church'.

在网络上已经出现了前往这座教堂的浏览路线，很多用户都想了解更多关于“鸡仔教堂”的事情。

Dee Dee Parker, a long term member of the Church by the Sea said the congregation is delighted that the building makes people happy but did not realise that they had become so popular online.

迪迪-帕克是教堂的长期成员，她表示对于这座建筑给人们带来欢乐，当地居民也表示很开心，不过大家都没有意识到这座教堂会在网络上如此受欢迎。

She said: 'It's so funny - we were completely unaware that it had become a hit on the internet. We see lots of people coming to take pictures of the church.'

她表示：“真的很有趣，我们都完全没有意识到教堂会在网络上火起来，我们经常看到许多人来教堂这边拍照。”

The church on Madeira Beach was founded in in 1944 by a group of fishermen. It's light up cross has been used as a nautical landmark for the fisherman to guide them back to land.

这座位于马德拉岛海滩的教堂是在1944年由一群渔民建造的。渔民们把教堂的灯火当做航海路标，指引他们回家的路。

The church's bird-like features are used as a compass to direct sea workers - its wings represent East and West, while its beak and tail symbolise North and South.

教堂的鸟类外形也是海上工人们的指南针：翅膀代表东西方向，喙和尾巴象征着南北方向。