Along A Country Road....for InSPIREd Sunday

 

Countryside with rolling hills...

A perfect setting for the

Swiss Alp, Texas Lutheran Church.

 

 

A small part of it's history,

is recorded on the Texas Historical Marker

 

I've photographed and written about this church

 in a previous post.

Click

HERE

 

Even though the grass is meticulously mowed,

I still think of this spot as the

 "Church in the Wildwood"

 

 

"How sweet on a clear, Sabbath morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell;
Its tones so sweetly are calling,
Oh, come to the church in the vale."

 

Enjoy your Sunday

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking today with others

 from around the world.

Click

HERE

 

 

A Church Once Rolled on Logs...for InSPIREd Sunday

 

Can you imagine a building this size moved by rolling logs under it?

 

That is exactly what happened in 1873.

 

 

Of course, in 1873, the car and truck traffic was not an issue.

But, I live on this prairie....

 and I know these rolling hills must have been a challenge,

 for a move such as this.

 

 

Using the name Union Church, from 1885-1913,

several faiths shared this sanctuary.

It was reorganized in 1927 as First Baptist Church.

(Information obtained from: fayettecountyhistory.org/  )

 

 

 

So you are curious why there is a sign "Not An Entrance"...

I was, too.

Fortunately while I was taking the photographs, someone stepped outside the church.

It was the music director.

She was kind enough to give me a quick tour inside and explain the sign on the door.

The old church building is now being used as their Fellowship Hall,

 with entrance through the new construction.

 

 

What a wonderful way to tie the two buildings together.

While touring...she said the bell,

still in the old bell tower,

 is rung on Sunday morning.

 

 

The windows also remain in the 1800's structure.

 

 

The newest construction is where the Sunday Morning Services are held.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your Sunday...

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking with:

 

Click HERE

to view

other churches,

 synagogues, cemeteries, and other religious buildings

from around the world. 

Flatonia Texas United Methodist Church for InSPIREd Sunday

 

The United Methodist Church, a well-kept white framed church, is located in

Flatonia Texas, a small community of about 1,300 people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the only stained glass I could see.

 

 

 

The Texas Historical plaque provided the only history I could find on the church.

 Even the historical plaque seems vague using these words, "Founded about 1855".

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking first came the tree...then, the sidewalk.

Nice to see how they saved the tree

 

Before closing with this post,

I would like you to check (Czech) out the heritage

 of many of the residents.

 

 

With the Czech heritage in abundance here, 

 the Czech language has been passed down through the generations, as is

 in most of the towns that surround where I live.

 

Nearly 100 early settlements in Texas had Czech names,

with half still in existence today.

 

The Czhilispiel Festival

 has a very interesting story of how it was started,

 to fund a local student's medical education.

 

Click HERE

to read about it.

 

linking today with

 

Click HERE

to view other churches, synagogues, cemeteries,

 and other religious buildings

 from a round the world.

Swiss Alp, Texas Lutheran Church...for InSPIREd Sunday

 

What a perfect way to start my Sunday...

photographing just after sunrise.

I know you are thinking there is a light on in the church alcove.

 

But in truth, it is the rising sun shining on an east facing window,

 producing this lovely glow in the front of the church.

 

 

Today is not my first time to post about the church I refer to as,

 " Church in the Wildwood"

 

 

And, although it is not a little brown church, as the lyrics of the song read,

I can hear the tune being sung in this 

 perfect country setting..

Click HERE 

to read the story of how the lyrics came about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As with most country churches, a cemetery is part of the complete picture.

 

 

"How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning

To listen to the clear ringing bells

It's tones so sweetly are calling

Oh, come to the church in the vale"

 

You still have time to make the morning service...

All are welcome !

Meggie

 

 

Linking with

InSPIREd Sunday

Click HERE

for other churches, synagogues,

 cemeteries, and other religious buildings from around the world.

  

Historic Church in the Country....for InSPIREd Sunday

 

My plan this morning was to arrive early,

 before the service started.

I wanted to once again capture the sunrise on a steeple.

 

God had other plans.....

The rain started before daylight. 

It is still raining as I photograph.

 

 

The steeple is a formidable sight to see,

 situated in the middle of open ranch and farmland. 

 

 

The history of the church, dedicated in 1879, and the bell can be read HERE .

Quoting from this link, "It has rung joyously at weddings; it has rung somberly, announcing the declaration of wars, deaths, fires and other significant events in the community and the world."

It also was rung on September 11, 2001.

 

 

A Texas Historic Landmark plaque was placed on the church property in 1994.

 

 

It's almost 8:30am and a light rain is still coming down.

Members are beginning to arrive for the Sunday morning service.

 

 

The door is open....

If you hurry, you can still make the service.

Meggie Mac

 

Click HERE

to view other churches,

 synagogues, and other religious buildings

from around the world.

 

 

Steeple Bathed in Sunlight.....for InSPIREed Sunday

 

Sunrise was at 6:56 this morning....

 

 

I've often thought,

 how much more beautiful the front view would be.....

 

 

 

if someone trimmed back the crepe myrtle.

covering the windows.

Meggie Mac

 

 

Click HERE

to view other churches, synagogues, religious buildings

from around the world.

 

 

 

Restored Church Becomes Library... for InSPIRED Sunday

 

The is a love story....

 of how one small community

 turned an abandoned church building, into a library.

 

 

It was just by chance that I came across the building,

on one of my drives to a neighboring town.

The community boasts a population of 90.

 

My dear readers, please take time to click HERE

and view the gallery of wonderful photos,

 of how this church was cut apart

 and moved.

 

 

It is a beautiful setting with a lovely butterfly garden.

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, I was passing through town when the library was closed.

I will definitely plan another trip....library hours are

afternoons only.

Meggie Mac

 

 

Click HERE 

to view other churches, synagogues,

 and other religious buildings,

  from around the world.