Monday, July 9, 2012

Berry Chapel, Arkadelphia


On the campus of Ouachita Baptist University

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Saint Boniface Catholic, Bigelow

Looking like some kind of fairy tale church,
St. Boniface was built in 1906.
I took this picture in early spring...
...and this one last winter.

There's more photos of this church over at Arkansas Ties.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Langley United Methodist

Wooden churches are often devoid of cornerstones, so it's hard to date them. This one is clad in vinyl, so it's even harder. Twenties?

Sunday, April 22, 2012

1st Presbyterian, Fordyce

The building, on the National Register of Historic Places, is 100 years old this year, although the church was organized in 1883. 

The windows, I'm afraid, are badly in need of fresh paint.

There's some nice Victorian scrollwork in the stained glass. 

I'm at a loss to explain the deterioration of the lead.  It's not a simple matter of being exposed to the elements.  Since the damage is around the solder joints, I suspect that an acid flux was used when the windows were built and was never adequately washed off.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Crystal Hill, Polk County

According to a nice gentleman who lives nearby, this was a schoolhouse during the week and a church on Sunday. He told me many of the old one room schoolhouses in the area served such double-duty. Consolidation closed the school and folks drifted away to larger churches.

Crystal Hill is east of Grannis.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Church of the Nazarene, Marshall

A unique and beautiful little church. There's usually a cornerstone built into the native rock foundation of a church such as this, but I couldn't find one.

What's not to like here? The pointed arches, the simple but elegant use of stained glass, the paintwork that highlights the glass, the neo-Victorian bell tower...

I have seen this church every time I've driven through Marshall, as Highway 65 bends within a few feet of its back wall.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Quitman United Methodist

There is a cornerstone dated 1881, but I imagine it was from a previous church structure.

This looks to me to be a bell tower, but I have never seen one separate from a church. Anyone know or care to speculate?

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Meir Chayim Temple, McGehee

Although southeast Arkansas' Jewish population is in decline, this small temple, built in 1947, continues to hold services. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas posts this article on the history of the temple and its congregation. Meir Chayim is on the National Registry of Historic Places and the Arkansas Historic Preservation write-up is here.

The double doors are made of deeply carved wood.

Friday, February 10, 2012

former Camp Springs Methodist, Kingsland

The same storm system that brought tornados and so much anguish to Alabama on January 23rd came through Arkansas hours earlier. One twister touched down here near Kingsland and wiped out Camp Springs Methodist Church.

The pulpit was left standing...

...as was the outhouse...


but the recently refurbished church itself was destroyed. A number of the gravestones in the adjoining cemetery were toppled and shattered as well.

We hear, but have not confirmed, that this may be the first church attended by Johnny Cash.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

1st Baptist, Altheimer

This picture was taken early last November. The scaffolding was set up to repair a set of stained glass windows that were damaged about a month previous in a hailstorm.

After replacing about fifteen pieces of glass,
I snapped this picture from inside the attic.

One of the colorful side windows in the sanctuary.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Wye Community Club, Pulaski County

A community center today, this was most likely a church for most of its life. My brother estimates the date of construction between 1890 and 1920.

I wonder if this is the Wye Mountain church referred to in this entry of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas:

In 1968, the Methodist Church united with the former Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church, taking the current official name—the United Methodist Church. A congregation at Wye (Perry County) was the only EUB church in the state at that time.

I know of no other church in Wye. If anyone knows if this was a EUB church previous to 1968, or a United Methodist church afterward, please let me know. And yes, it is in Pulaski County, not Perry, but just barely, as Wye is in the furthest NNW corner of the county.

UPDATE:  6/13/12  -  I completely overlooked the church across the road, which indeed is Wye Mountain United Methodist Church.  Here's a picture of it.
Come to think of it, the community center could very well have been a schoolhouse in a previous incarnation.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012