A Photographic Tour of Churches
I love looking at old churches in the countryside. When my husband and I are out driving, I often look in the countryside for those steeples that are a sure sign of a church. We will turn off the main road on our search of the steeple and most of the time we find it attached to a charming country church. Since I always come prepared with my camera, we stop so I can take a few photos.
We spend a lot of time traveling in our car to photograph lighthouses and when we do we often find a few churches to photograph too. Most of the time these churches are closed when we arrive so my photos are primarily of the outside of the buildings. We have seen all types of churches but I think my favorite is the small white country church that we see throughout the countryside. I have seen these little churches both in the USA and Canada.
The photo here is an example of that type of church. This photo was taken in Elsah Illinois, a small 19th century Illinois town just off the Great River Road. The church was built in 1874 and for a long time was the only place of worship in Elsah.
We were driving the side roads on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan looking for a lighthouse that I was wanting to photographed. Our GPS got us near the area but not quite to the lighthouse so we were doing a bit of back road exploring when we came across a sign for an historic Lutheran church. We stopped the car and looked down a narrow gravel road/path where we could see the church in the distance. After a bit of discussion, we decided to go down this path and see the church. When I got out of the car I was swarmed by mosquitoes so I took a few quick photos and got back in the car.
On this page I will show you through my photographs some of the churches we have visited during our travels.
Finnish Lutheran Church
The church is a simple white structure that the sign in front said was built in 1888. From the sign I also learned that this church was built by a group of Finnish Immigrants who banded together to form this congregation in Jacobsville, Michigan in1886. They first met in various locations until the church was completed in 1888. Today the church is part of a larger congregation, but it is still used to hold summer vesper services.
Historic Phoenix Church - Michigan Upper Peninsula
As we traveled up the main north/south road in the Keweenaw Peninsula we would come across this historic church. We stopped several times trying to get it in just the right light. After a search of the internet, I found that this church was originally built in 1858 in the mining town of Cliff. In 1899 in was taken apart and reassembled in the town of Phoenix where it still stands today. Masses were held at the church until 1957. Today the church is sometimes used for weddings and memorials.
Our Savior Lutheran in Minnesota
We stopped to photograph this church while traveling to photograph lighthouses along Lake Superior in Minnesota.
Norwalk Michigan Church
This is a church that we ran across while we were traveling in the lower peninsula of Michigan. Whenever we see an interesting looking church we stop to take photos. I like to use the photos to make greeting cards.
St. Charles Missouri Church Steeple
Church steeples can often be seen for miles around. This is a steeple that is one that is a bit closer to home for me. It is in the downtown area of historic St. Charles Missouri.
Lee's Chapel
This church was photographed on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Lexington Virginia. This chapel was built in 1867-68 at the request of Robert E Lee, who was then President of the University. When Lee died he was buried beneath the chapel. The chapel is on the list of National Historic Places.
Churches on Canadian Cruise - beautiful church seen during our stops in Canada
This is a church we saw while on a cruise stop in Nova Scotia
If you have enjoyed my photographs of country churches you might want to check out this book of churches in Minnesota.
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