WindSong Church of Christ, North Little Rock

church web site

St. Mary's Catholic, North Little Rock

unknown, North Little Rock

My wife thinks I should be more positive and less critical on this project, but sometimes I just can't help myself.

This church must have been built alongside Main Street in North Little Rock at least ten years ago. I don't know if there has ever been a sign identifying the name of the church. Maybe that's a commendable thing. I mean, when you know who lives there, must God's name be on the mailbox?

Still...

I guess what bothers me about this church is its scale. Not its size, but its scale. There are larger churches in the LR metro area, but this one fills an entire block in a neighborhood filled with small and modest sized homes. It just feels incongruous and out of scale with its surroundings.

Maybe it's just me.

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Update - The church has a sign now. It's called Full Counsel Metro Church.

New Jerusalem Baptist, North Little Rock

Don't know whether this church has a steeple or a cupola, and I sure don't know what the style is. But I do know it's unusual. For Arkansas, anyway.

St. Anne Catholic, North Little Rock

A pretty little church with a convenient covered walkway that would seem to invite parishioners to congregate on rainy days before the dash to the car. The decorative iron supports are a nice touch as well.

The color variation of the shingles matches that of the stonework. These photos were taken before the trees leafed out. Bet it's prettier now.

The parish web site tells how the building was a honky-tonk before it became a church. Now that's what I call a transition.

1st Pentecostal, North Little Rock

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

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.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, North Little Rock

A castle keep 'steeple' and crenelated battlements makes this church look like it's here for the duration.

A drawbridge style entry...

...two spectacular doors with impressive iron hardware...

...and a gorgeous Madonna.

church info