St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church

Stained Glass Cross, photo by MilliGFunk Photography

Each time I drive through Coffman, Missouri to visit Crown Valley Winery, Chaumette Winery, or Charleville Winery, I pass a small white frame church that sits on a humble little Ste. Genevieve County hill. There’s not been a time that I’ve driven past this church that I haven’t noted its eerie demeanor; it’s a seemingly lonely building overlooking a really lovely landscape. The church’s grounds are kept immaculate, and it appears to be an active church, with masses held at 10 a.m. each Sunday and at 7 p.m. on holidays.

I’ve always wanted to photograph the church, but I’d never had my camera with me on a day when I had the time to stop and take pictures. A few weeks ago, I was alone with my camera in tow, batteries fully charged. As the day came to a close, I found myself parked in the church driveway snapping photos.

I hope I’ve captured this church the way that I see it; as ghostly, chaste, and disconnected. A building from another time, whose place has changed dramatically in the years since Coffman became “Crown Country”. This perspective is in no way a criticism – to the contrary, I think this old church is a beautiful symbol of simpler, purer times.

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