Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Little Vine Primitive Baptist, Logan County
I love this photograph. My brother Jim snapped it two autumns back. He says he didn't do anything other than point and shoot, but it came out looking like a surreal diorama.The church is at the foot of Mt. Magazine in Blue Mountain. It's one of many Primitive Baptist churches around the nation called Little Vine.
It's another one of those old time dual-entrance churches. Look at the high windows; they let in God's light, yet discourage wandering eyes.
And how many churches still have screen doors?
Friday, November 4, 2011
Oppelo church, Conway County
There's no sign outside of this fine old church. Has it got a congregation?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Liberty Hill Baptist, Little Rock
My brother and I restored this set of windows last month.
The purple Waterglass was introduced in the 1980's, so they're not that old. They were just installed poorly and were falling out of the frames.
We built the door panels to match the windows above about five years ago.
The church has a beautifully decorated vaulted ceiling.
I believe the sanctuary dates to 1965.
The church was formally the home for Asbury United Methodist Church, which moved west in 1982.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Earle Baptist, Crittenden County
The Gothic entrance is all that remains of the church that was destroyed by an F3 tornado in 2008. While it doesn't exactly blend with the new plan, it serves as a bittersweet connection to the church's (and the town's) past.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Soldiers For Christ, Lonoke County
Further north on Highway 31 is Jesus' Diner...
...serving up manna from heaven three times a week.Sunday, July 17, 2011
Shiloh Apostolic, Lonoke County
Also on Highway 31 just north of Lonoke. Looks to me like a converted dairy bar. A "Future Home Of..." sign has been erected on the wooded lot to the north, so there's an expansion in store.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wattensaw Baptist, Lonoke County
I snapped this photo back in April. The floods shortly after closed Highway 31. As Wattensaw is right next to Waterproof, I reckon they fared okay. By now, they probably miss those rains.Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. Spring and early summer are my busiest times, so I haven't been able to escape the shop and just drive. I'll try to get out more. Until then, I have a few saved up, so I'll post those.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Saint Mary of the Springs, Hot Springs
Established in 1869, the church bears two cornerstones. One from a previous structure dated 1886, and a second from the present church built in 1923.The photos were taken on Good Friday morning.
Saint MaryMonday, April 11, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Lexa United Methodist, Phillips County
The cherry tree is blooming. Spring is here.
A nice example of thin-stacked Batesville area sandstone.Sunday, March 27, 2011
That Old Church
After too long an absence, here is another photo taken and story written by my brother, Jim King. It comes from his book, Abandoned Arkansas. His notes on the photo follow the story.
Copyright 2008, from Abandoned Arkansas, by Jim King
Oh, yes, Lord. I know that church.
You’ve seen it? Now what would possess you to stop and look at it? It’s almost falling down. You took pictures of it? Land sakes.
I figure nobody even sees it nowadays. It’s almost been swallowed by the earth by now.
Now, mind you, we had some mighty good times inside. There was a big congregation there about fifty years ago, and if you passed on a Wednesday night, you’d know how big it was from the sound of the choir practicing. Oh, I really enjoyed those choir practices; they were far better than the actual Sunday choirs. I declare that anybody who left that building after practice was smiling and joking and full of God’s laughter.
You know that God laughs, don’t you, young man? Lord, he does it all the time. It’s how he copes with us.
My Daddy helped to build that church back in the teens, and I guess I never expected it would ever be empty.
But times change. I don’t think God does, but people sure do.
After Brother Benjamin passed, there was no one to fill the void. He had helped build that church, and anyone who came after was just tryin’ to hoe a dry row, if you get my meaning.
Oh, there were sparks, and a few of the preachers lit a bit of a fire. Especially Brother Meaning. That was back in the sixties, when we all listened better than now.
But the generations that started it all died out about the same time, and their kids - I’m one, you know - kept up the vision. But times change, and the congregation did, too. We all got a little older, and most of us got more cynical.
It’s got hard for most people to believe in anything anymore.
When I started going there, the pews were filled an hour before the sermon began, and it was standing room only in the nave. Then people began to pass on, and it was very few of their kids that came in behind.
I watched as the congregation shrank, and it just made my heart cry. Others felt the same way, but there were just too few of us to make a difference.
I don’t remember the name of the last pastor; he wasn’t there for more than a few months. But he was the one who told us the doors would be closing in three weeks. Three weeks!
I know there were only four of us, but you shouldn’t do your congregation that way. Visiting preacher or no.
We never went back after that. And look at our church now.
God is in your heart, young man. And if he isn’t, there’s not a grand cathedral or tabernacle that can put him there.
He’s here in this room with us right now.
What’s more, he’s in that old church still.
Go there. You’ll see.
from Jim's notes:
Many of my friends have chided me for this story.
“How can you write a story of a church from a Christian point of view when you’re an atheist?”
Just because I don’t believe in God doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate points of view from those that do.
I’d like to think others would do the same for me.
It’s one of my favorite stories. I had no idea what I would write as I started, hoping inspiration would come during the process. In fact, I had no intention of using the picture at all, as I had many more abandoned churches with more, uh, picturesqueness. But the story flowed, and I can’t deny there was some influence from outside.
It’s called a muse.
The church is in Phillips County.
Copyright 2008, from Abandoned Arkansas, by Jim KingThat Old Church
Oh, yes, Lord. I know that church.
You’ve seen it? Now what would possess you to stop and look at it? It’s almost falling down. You took pictures of it? Land sakes.
I figure nobody even sees it nowadays. It’s almost been swallowed by the earth by now.
Now, mind you, we had some mighty good times inside. There was a big congregation there about fifty years ago, and if you passed on a Wednesday night, you’d know how big it was from the sound of the choir practicing. Oh, I really enjoyed those choir practices; they were far better than the actual Sunday choirs. I declare that anybody who left that building after practice was smiling and joking and full of God’s laughter.
You know that God laughs, don’t you, young man? Lord, he does it all the time. It’s how he copes with us.
My Daddy helped to build that church back in the teens, and I guess I never expected it would ever be empty.
But times change. I don’t think God does, but people sure do.
After Brother Benjamin passed, there was no one to fill the void. He had helped build that church, and anyone who came after was just tryin’ to hoe a dry row, if you get my meaning.
Oh, there were sparks, and a few of the preachers lit a bit of a fire. Especially Brother Meaning. That was back in the sixties, when we all listened better than now.
But the generations that started it all died out about the same time, and their kids - I’m one, you know - kept up the vision. But times change, and the congregation did, too. We all got a little older, and most of us got more cynical.
It’s got hard for most people to believe in anything anymore.
When I started going there, the pews were filled an hour before the sermon began, and it was standing room only in the nave. Then people began to pass on, and it was very few of their kids that came in behind.
I watched as the congregation shrank, and it just made my heart cry. Others felt the same way, but there were just too few of us to make a difference.
I don’t remember the name of the last pastor; he wasn’t there for more than a few months. But he was the one who told us the doors would be closing in three weeks. Three weeks!
I know there were only four of us, but you shouldn’t do your congregation that way. Visiting preacher or no.
We never went back after that. And look at our church now.
God is in your heart, young man. And if he isn’t, there’s not a grand cathedral or tabernacle that can put him there.
He’s here in this room with us right now.
What’s more, he’s in that old church still.
Go there. You’ll see.
from Jim's notes:
Many of my friends have chided me for this story.
“How can you write a story of a church from a Christian point of view when you’re an atheist?”
Just because I don’t believe in God doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate points of view from those that do.
I’d like to think others would do the same for me.
It’s one of my favorite stories. I had no idea what I would write as I started, hoping inspiration would come during the process. In fact, I had no intention of using the picture at all, as I had many more abandoned churches with more, uh, picturesqueness. But the story flowed, and I can’t deny there was some influence from outside.
It’s called a muse.
The church is in Phillips County.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
First Presbyterian, Pine Bluff
A very tall copper-clad steeple on this church.
A shot through the budding trees.
I think this window has dichroic glass in it. It really glows.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
I.D.M.R., Pine Bluff
Daffodils bloom outside the Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research. Is it a church? I don't know, but they host 'Bible lectures' four times a week. The building appears to be a re-purposed 30's era gas station.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Lakeside United Methodist, Pine Bluff
Is this not a beautiful church? It was completed in 1912.I snapped this picture around 1PM on a Sunday. A very nice lady who was leaving the church saw me photographing and introduced herself. I regret to say I don't recall her name, but I believe she's an assistant pastor in the church. She informed me the church once had a dome. You can see the dome in a photograph at the link below. Personally, I think it looks better without it.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Holy Rosary Catholic, Stuttgart
The stained glass in this church is most unusual. The glass itself is beautiful blown Blenko glass, but instead of lead binding the pieces, it's held together with epoxy resin, much like dalle-de-verre, or faceted glass. Dalle is 3/4" thick, but Blenko sheet glass at its thickest is about 1/4" thick and at its thinnest is 1/16" thick. My visits to the church to repair some of the broken pieces proved to be a challenge, but after 39 years, it's nice to be able to learn something new.Thursday, February 24, 2011
Zion Lutheran, Waldenburg
Waldenburg's Lutheran congregation dates back to 1881.The present church was built in 1948.
These will surely be the last snow pictures for some time.
A fine pair of doors.church web page on lcms.org
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Salem United Methodist, Saline County
Like many churches throughout the south, this one began as a campground arbor. Three other churches stood on the grounds before this one was built in 1966. The arbor is maintained to this date.Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Gospel Temple Baptist, Pulaski County
The church, south of Wrightsville on Dollarway Road,isn't much to look at....
...but the sign is.Monday, January 24, 2011
St. Anthony Catholic, Weiner
A solid church.Built in 1936.
Why am I always racing the sun to take these pictures?
Mary on a winter's day.
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