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.

Geyer Springs First Baptist, Little Rock

with carnival, October 28, 2011

without carnival, November 8, 2009

church web site

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.

WindSong Church of Christ, North Little Rock

church web site

Hill Top Baptist, Pulaski County

On a ridge west of Cabot.

Gospel Temple Baptist, Pulaski County

The church, south of Wrightsville on Dollarway Road,
isn't much to look at....

...but the sign is.

Immanuel Lutheran, Alexander

There has been an Immanuel Lutheran congregation in Alexander for one hundred thirty years. I'm not sure when the present church was built.

First Baptist, Little Rock

Tomorrow is Independence Day. I drove past First Baptist to take just such a shot as this, and what do you know? No flags. So I went into the files and found this one which was taken last November. Go figure.

church web site

Cathedral Park Apartments, Little Rock

The Little Rock church at 15th & Center was built in 1889. For its first thirty years it was home to the Winfield Methodist congregation. In 1919 it was purchased by the town's growing Greek Orthodox community and became the home to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church until 1983, at which time, like Winfield and many others, the congregation moved westward.

The building was then converted to apartments. The original slate roof was replaced with shingles in 1991.

W. 65th St. Church of Christ, Little Rock

church web site

Alexander First Baptist

new church, old church

Bible Way Church, Pulaski County

This is the Bible Way Community Apostolic Faith Church.
Thirteen syllables. Wow.

Mabelvale United Methodist, Pulaski County

Built in 1965.
Church founded in 1846.

church web site

Walnut Grove Methodist, Pulaski County

This is the little church that inspired this blog. These first photographs were taken last February.
Walnut Valley Methodist was built in 1885, just south of Mt. Chenal on Ferndale Creek. The Sunday school addition was added in the 1950s. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

This is Barney Taylor. He is the man largely responsible for bringing the church back to life. He has spent untold hours on the project. He says he's retired, but don't you believe it.

He hired me to reglaze the windows. Here's what one looked like before the paint was scraped off. Barney located old, wavy window glass to replace the broken pieces and you can see the distorted reflection in the shot. You can also see the old church piano sitting inside.

This is what the church looks like today. The pews are in and much of the landscaping is complete. Doesn't it look like an ideal location for a small wedding? It can be rented for one; just call 224-6047.

This is Walnut Grove's parent church, Highland Valley United Methodist, a few miles east, inside Little Rock's city limits. Their funds, along with Barney's sweat and toil, made the restoration happen.

church web site

Bread of Life Outreach, Pulaski County

This prefab metal building of a church is also in the Jacksonville / Gravel Ridge area.

Bayou Meto Baptist, Pulaski County

One more steeple-entry. Even though this a a much more modest sized church than the last two entries, it still has a rather grand facade in relation to its size. I like this one the best because it's less clunky. Also, the half-circular steps provide a nice foundation and their roundness gives counterpoint to the straight lines.

All Souls, Scott

I have admired this church for a long time. It has got to be one of the most beautiful churches in Arkansas.

Built in 1906, All Souls was interdenominational before such a thing was popular.

When I came through about a month and a half ago, there was a very well attended picnic going on outside and the folks looked like they were having a grand old time. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I came back a couple of weeks later to snap these pictures.

There's even a churchy tool shed out back.
church web site

Pine Grove Baptist, Little Rock

On Dixon Road, near Sweet Home.
The classic look of a southern church.

Sign outside reads:
Where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord.
church web site

Visitors Welcome

New Hope Primitive Baptist Church, Pulaski County

I'll be posting pictures here of Arkansas churches, hopefully on a daily basis.

Visitors are indeed welcome. Feel free to leave comments.