“Abandoned Church” – Bruce County Road 40
“The problem with churches of all sorts, is that so often they ignore the key teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, like the doctrine of love. So often we ask God to be on our side instead of asking that we be blessed enough to be on His. That said, the wheat and the tares must grow up together, and in the days of harvest they will be separated properly.”
― David Holdsworth
Another view from my Bruce County road trip and just down the road from the beautiful wheatfield that I photographed earlier.
When I drive past these abandoned buildings, I inevitably find myself asking, “What happened here?”
At some point in it’s history, this would have been an active local church. People would have gathered here on Sundays, met as friends and family, sat through a sermon, and worshipped. And then, suddenly, or gradually, attendance dwindled and the doors closed. Was there discord, did the leadership move away, or were other pastures greener? I’m curious why someone would leave a beautiful building like this to simply decay. What went through the mind of the person who turned off the lights and locked the door, for the last time? Did they ever envision this, or was there a hope to return on some future date?
At this point, I’d say, it’s beyond salvaging.
It sits, forlorn, along the roadside, it’s doors locked with a rusty chain and padlock, most of the glass fallen out of the windows, left to return to the elements. There’s no marker even identifying it. All that remains is a shell of what was and testament to what might have been.
Since posting this originally, I came across the history, if you are interested. It was the Williscroft Baptist Church and closed its doors in the 1960s as did the rest of the town.
Nikon D300
Tamron 17-50 mm f/2.8 @ 31 mm
1/320 sec, f/9.0 ISO 200
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Love the door, but not the mustard yellow of the bricks. You could change it, but that would be faking it. :-0
That’s the colour of the bricks in the region. Made from local clay.
I guessed as much – thanks.
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Once upon a time it would have been a pretty little place. Now it’s just a ghost.
Amazing photos. There are a lot of abandoned churches in my area, they are all really old. I guess they became too much of a burden to keep up. But they make up the majority of buildings with amazing architecture, wood and stonework. I see that they actually can be interesting images.
I like the roof and the clouds. 🙂
Thank you. It was a great day for photography.
I see this way to often, there is a huge church sitting in our downtown area here in Augusta Ga that is so beautiful. but it has just a few years left before it become to far gone to repair .I often wished i knew that text and title of the last sermon preached it a place like this. God who knows all things and knowing what would be to come, surly he spoke a warning to those in the pew. great article and picture.
Thank you.