1st United Methodist, Rector

Brother Jim was in NE Arkansas last week and sent me some church photos. This is the Methodist church in Rector, built in 1915.

He took some interior shots as well.

I like the subdued earth tones in the stained glass.

long gone

I have been some time away from this site.  A computer crash and the loss of many photographs kinda took the wind out of my sails.  What pictures survived did so without the accompanying notes needed to correctly identify the churches and with nothing but my shoddy memory to fall back on, I was forced to abandon much of my work and start over.  What's more, my business picked up to the point where I had to give up my part-time courier job that had provided me with the opportunity to drive all around the state taking pictures along the way.  You don't get out, you can't take pictures.

So why start up again?  Well, because from time to time I still pass churches that seem in need of photographing.  And, my brother, Jim, keeps sending me pictures of churches he has photographed. Since Jim 1.) is on the road more than I am, 2.) knows more about architecture and history than I do, and 3.) is a better photographer than me, I would be a fool not to post what he sends me.  (Jim's own blogs are Architectural Vestiges and Old House Doctor.) So I will continue to load church photos, perhaps not as often as before, but when I can.  I encourage anyone else in Arkansas who has a camera and a church to photograph to send me pictures so I can post them as well.  Noticeably absent from the site are churches from the northwest part of the state, so pictures of those churches are especially appreciated.

Berry Chapel, Arkadelphia

On the campus of Ouachita Baptist University

Ministries site

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.

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?

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.

Lighthouse Church, Glenwood