1st Pentecostal, North Little Rock

You don't see too many ogee curved roofs.
On churches, or anything else.

unknown, Brinkley

As there is no identifying sign, I assume this pretty little church has been converted into a home. If so, it's a bit unusual that the cross would remain over the entrance. A parsonage, perhaps?

Update: Please refer to the comment for the church's past and present identification.

Dempsey Film Group, Little Rock

Yesterday's post showed creative re-use by a church; today's features creative re-use of a church. Originally Second Presbyterian (currently in Pleasant Valley), the Dempsey Film Group moved in 17 years ago. Downstairs is for reception and offices, while production studios are upstairs. Dempsey put a lot of effort into balancing the restoration of the building with meeting the needs of a modern film production facility.

Even the sign is an example of creative re-use.

This is the central south facing set of stained glass windows. I'm pleased to say I helped in the restoration of some of these panels.

Update (July 2011) - Dempsey Film Group announced recently that it is to cease operations. The church will be sold.

Immanuel Outreach, Little Rock

Old neighborhood groceries can't compete with the chains, so they're turned into all manner of businesses and homes. But it's just as common to see them converted into churches. This one is in east Little Rock.

Family Life Bible Church, Conway

big church, little church

window greenery
church web site

St. Mary's Catholic Church, Helena

St. Mary's steeple, shot from the west.

The steeple from the east.

The church was designed by Charles Eames, the famous furniture designer. Read more about the history of the church and its architecture on the church web site.

NLC, North Little Rock

Down the road from The Summit Church is another church that doesn't look like a church, NLC, which stands for Next Level New Life Church. I saw its twin when I was last in Conway, so I assume since it calls itself "One Church" with "Multiple Locations," they all look more or less the same. (There's another branch in Heber Springs and many more around the country.)

Again, I want to stress there are many paths to God and far be it from me to criticize the manner in which anybody or any church body goes about doing so. Let me add that I am 54 years old and clearly older than the demographic this 'dotTV' church is attempting to reach. But I think it's worth asking whether all churches of a particular denomination should look alike. I mean, we're not talking about Burger Kings or Holiday Inns here. It seems to me churches - the structures, not just the ministries - should be a cut above.

church web site

The Summit Church, North Little Rock

I mean no offense. but this is not my idea of what a church should look like. I have no doubt that spiritual enlightenment takes place inside this building. After all, hospitals and state prisons are often direct conduits to God. I just feel a church should look somewhat more... well... churchlike.

To their credit, their web site says they are not about a building. You'll have to go there to find out what they are about.

2nd Baptist, Conway

Their website has pictures of a new Big Box Church under construction outside of town. I prefer the space age look of the current structure, built in 1953.

St. Peter's Episcopal, Conway

This is the main entrance to the original St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway. It was built in 1944. The width of the church was only three times the width of the doorway.

Here's what it looks like from the south. I love the sets of twin gothic arches, their brick surrounds and the row of buttresses. I suspect the roof line in the rear was part of the later addition.

Here's the 1963 addition, perhaps better described as a new attached church. They kept a hint of the buttresses and recreated the scale of the old entrance, but then it opens up further west to a much larger building. I like the placement of the steeple at the low point of the new church. Somehow it reconciles the old and the new and brings unity to a juxtaposition that would otherwise be jarring. I don't know about those dormers, though.

church web site

Marvell New Bethel

Like Shadden's BBQ*, the Marvell New Bethel Church of God in Christ is not in Marvell at all, but NW of Marvell on 49.
* possibly the best chopped BBQ in Arkansas

Side view shows a two roofed addition,
turned contrarywise.
Hope it drains.

Life Savers Bus, Benton

Life Savers bus with apparent steeple

Plainview Baptist, Little Rock

Stagecoach Road, not far from I-430

Antioch Christian Church, Tull

The clean and simple lines of this church are mirrored in its assembly hall. The glassed-in steeple is a bit unusual.