Immaculate Conception Church, photo by MilliGFunk Photography

I spotted Immaculate Conception Church this week as I headed with a friend toward Louis P. Balducci Vineyards and Winery in Augusta, Missouri. The church sits atop a hill on the south side of Highway 94 in Augusta, and its presence is notable. Built at around the same time as St. Louis was hosting the 1904 World’s Fair, the church is small but stately.

I haven’t been able find much information about the history of the church, but my Catholic friend commented that Immaculate Conception was “very German”, which makes sense, considering that Augusta, Missouri was settled by Germans. A drive through the town reveals German-language engravings on other churches.

My friend and I were lucky that when we stopped at the church to take pictures a church employee was on the property to invite us inside. I didn’t feel comfortable taking photos in the sanctuary, but here’s another St. Louis-area blogger who has posted interior photos on his site.

Immaculate Conception Church is located at 5912 S. Highway 94 in August, MO.  As far as I can tell, the church does not have a website, but you can reach the church by calling (636) 482-4455. If historic small town churches inspire you, I’d definitely recommend taking a drive down Highway 94 so that you can enjoy Immaculate Conception’s beautiful architecture and lovely hilltop setting.

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.

For more posts about Missouri churches or for more writing about Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, use the search bar to the left.

St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church, photo by MilliGFunk Photography

Yellow Glass, photo by MilliGFunk Photography

Grassy Hollow, photo by smalltowngirl

It seems that on every hike I take and in every new town I explore I find several lovely old churches to photograph. This Sunday’s church is Grassy Hollow Southern Baptist Church, located in Washington County, Missouri.

Grassy Hollow Southern Baptist, photo by smalltowngirl

Grassy Hollow is a quaint, white, frame church not far off of Missouri Highway 8 on Grassy Hollow Road. The nearest “town” is Shirley, Missouri. Shirley isn’t registered with the U.S. Census, so I assume that it’s a community rather than a town.

I forgot to look for an established date on the church’s foundation, but according to mogenweb.com, the adjacent cemetery dates back to at least the mid-1970s. Not exactly historic (to my knowledge), but typical of Missouri’s smaller, rural church buildings. And it looked very pretty in the snow. One of my favorite features of Grassy Hollow Southern Baptist was the simple wooden cross atop its steeple.

Simple Steeple, photo by smalltowngirl

Service Times, photo by smalltowngirl

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Grassy Hollow Southern Baptist Church is located on Grassy Hollow Road/Washington County Road 604 near Reed Lumber Mill 10 miles west of Potosi, Missouri. From Potosi, take Missouri Highway 8 roughly ten miles west, and turn onto County Road 604. The church is a few miles down on your left. Grassy Hollow also includes a small cemetery.

St. Louis, MO, photo by smalltowngirl

SO…there’s this giant bell mounted on a brick and concrete pedestal in front of the First Baptist Church of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and I’m not sure why.

Granted the bell looks super-cool (up close, especially), but there’s no plaque or sign indicating what the significance of the bell is.

The bell has words inscribed into the side of the bell, as well as a large “No. 11″ embossed on it. Does anyone know why an older church would mount a bell this way? Any Bonne Terre folks out there who could tell me what this bell’s all about?

No. 11, photo by smalltowngirl

Bell at First Baptist, photo by smalltowngirl

Marvin Chapel, photo by smalltowngirl

When I got off of US Highway 67 to drive into the town of Bonne Terre, I saw a sign for a United Methodist church five miles away in the opposite direction of the town. I took a detour to check the church out.

Marvin Chapel United Methodist Church sits on Missouri Highway 47, five miles east of Bonne Terre. I didn’t see an established date on the building, but the church didn’t look very old. The structure was simple, but the red front doors felt welcoming.

If 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 (Farmington, MO), Bellevue Presbyterian Church (Caledonia, MO), and another post on Bellevue.

Marvin Chapel, photo by smalltowngirl

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