20 Apr 2015 The grand old ladies of the 501

Posted at 8:31 PMh in Travel by

Story and photos
by Linda Henderson

There’s something about the old country churches that we encounter on our 501 back roads travels that make me want to stop and photograph these grand old ladies. I know the English language does not assign gender pronouns to objects, but to me a church is best described as a lady.

These ladies come in all shapes and sizes. Some have steeples and a few have old bell towers. Many have cemeteries that surround them. In these old cemeteries, gravestones mark lives from the 1800s through modern times.

It appears that many old churches have served multiple purposes. Some may have been school houses as well as community meeting places. We have also come across churches that have been repurposed. Some have been converted to homes. Some now sit lonely and dilapidated at the edge of farmland, with hay bales stacked inside and out. Others have been donated by historical societies and now serve as wedding chapels or places for family reunions. But some remain thriving parts of the community and are lovingly tended and cared for by the membership.

In our travels I have noticed that most of these old buildings are clapboard siding with metal roofs and stacked stone foundations. Most I’m sure were built by the church membership. The style is simple, as if the membership used only what was available from the surrounding woods to build the church. It appears they hand-split the logs of pine or oak and erected the timbers themselves. Many a member possibly purchased their own pew or built it themselves. Occasionally you will find a name carved into a pew or a plaque with family names signifying that the pew was donated by a family. Sometimes the workmanship is extraordinary with stained glass and beautifully fitted trim work.

In these simple structures, prayers were said for blessing of crops; petitions were made to God to spare family members from illness; weddings or births were celebrated; and families mourned the death of loved ones. For many of us these old structures serve as a place for homecomings and comfort, and they reunite us with our past and with our families.

I grew up in church. My childhood was filled with Sunday school, Bible school, Girls Missionary Auxiliary, youth group and youth choir. There have not been many weeks in my life that did not involve a church service. I have a sentimental feeling and reverence for these structures. Others may see these old buildings as simply landmarks. So many rural communities and towns have been built around these structures. They have a rich history and should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

So when you travel the 501, enjoy the grand old ladies and capture a little history with your camera.

Linda Henderson
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