Before the days of the mega church and television evangelists there were churches. Small churches, Country churches. These churches often served as the center for a community. The first community centers. Many were school houses and some were post offices. It was always a place of refuge. It was truly the place where everyone knew your name. They cared about you and your family. They knew if your Great Aunt Elsie's brother-in-law's sister was sick. If you misbehaved in church you prayed that the congregation would sing all six verses of "Just as I Am" because your momma was going to get you, if she didn't get you someone else would.
Many of these small churches had cemeteries adjacent. The tomb stones carried names of people still attending the church. You can trace a community's history from the tomb stones in church cemeteries. Even now people come back once a year, usually in May, for decoration, they place flowers on the graves of their loved ones. This is also a chance to visit with the people they haven't seen since the year before. If there will be a song service, there will be preaching and there will be food.
Being a displaced city girl I didn't know about country churches unless it was in connection with the "The Walton's" or "Little House on the Prairie" I have since learned to love the sight of a little white church next to a cemetery. It's like touching history. The person in the cemetery may also be the same person who sat in the pew that you are now sitting.
Many churches have lost the community that they use to have. Really how well can you know someone when you attend a church with 5,000 others? They don't know your name much less your momma's name. These small churches represent a community of people who wanted to grow their faith.
So now....
This has given me a chance to combine some of the things I love best. Research, talking (blogging) and photography. I can take pictures of churches and share them. I also can gather information and share it.
I did not take the background picture. I find it on the net. I will always let you know where I found the picture and any information I have.
ARE YOU READY?
The first church is McKendree. It caught my eye because of the way the doors are on the front. It is an unexpected architectural feature.
It is located five miles west of Scranton, Arkansas on Hwy 393.
It was organized in 1880 after Nehemiah Cravans donated land for the church and cemetery. (It is across the road from the church) It was originally across the road. It was moved sometime before 1960. (No exact date was given) Before the building was built the church met in various chapels in the community. Always for Sunday School and prayer. Preaching services occasionally. The chapels were used by several churches in the community.
The first pastor was Rev. Wade H. Frost.
I found my information in the Logan County Historical Society magazine "Wagon Wheels"
The last two sentences of the article are my favorite. "Members talk much of the old folk who founded their church, and their hearts are made happy because many years ago their forefathers had the determination to do something worth while; something that would live long in the lives of their children."
The church has a metal roof now. You can see some cedar shingles on the back corners.
If you look closely you can see a piano.
