Villa Ridge Christian Church, photo by smalltowngirl
One of the things I love most about my wanderings in rural Missouri is the moment when I happen accidentally upon a beautiful, old, country church. Missouri’s churches have stories to tell; stories of weddings, funerals, and stories of community.
I’m always amazed that the people of these tiny, probably relatively poor towns understood the need for churches as gathering places, churches as symbols of faith, and churches as places of worship. Churches are deeply relevant in small town Missouri history and culture, which I think is what inspires me to photograph so many of them.
Villa Ridge Christian Church, photo by smalltowngirl
When I saw this church outside of Washington, Missouri, goosebumps immediately traversed my neck, back and arms. Not only is the church nearly 150 years old, it’s the same denomination I was raised in; First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
Villa Ridge Christian Church is located in Villa Ridge, Missouri, between Union and Pacific, Missouri. According to US Census data from 2000, the population of Villa Ridge is 2,417. Villa Ridge Christian Church is located at 119 East Villa Ridge Road.
Villa Ridge Christian Church, photo by smalltowngirl
There are some pretty churches out here, I will say that.
I can’t wait for the weather to be nice again so I can go out & find some of the more hidden spots in the area.
Why assume that small towns are relatively poor?
I don’t assume. Many of the towns I’ve traveled to and written about are actually quite poor. I read about and research many of these communities before or after I travel to them, frequenting the US Census website for median incomes, populations, etc. Many of these towns are relatively poor, according to available income data.
To be fair, I did not research the income in Villa Ridge, Missouri, but nor did I say that Villa Ridge was relatively poor – only that many of the towns I’ve traveled to that have historically and/or architecturally notable churches are, in fact, not affluent. In this post, by “relatively poor”, I meant family income in relationship to the size, architectural beauty, and cost of some of the churches I’ve seen. My apologies if my post was in any way offensive. I admire these old churches, and I find the communities who built them intriguing.
Richwoods, Missouri, for instance, has a beautiful old Roman Catholic church that is probably the single largest, most significant building in the community (Richwoods is an “unincorporated community”, not a town) – architecturally speaking. R
[...] you like Missouri church posts, check out Villa Ridge Christian Church (Villa Ridge, MO), St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church (Richwoods, MO), St. Paul Lutheran Church [...]