A Small Town Girl's Guide » small town churches

Grassy Hollow Southern Baptist Church

MilliGFunk — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:14:28 +0000

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.

Villa Ridge Christian Church

MilliGFunk — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:28:38 +0000

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

St. Paul Lutheran Church

MilliGFunk — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:57:04 +0000

When I was a little girl, I went to preschool at the school associated with this church.

I have clear memories from inside the old brick school building, and I remember thinking to myself that it would be cool to grow up and come back to the school when it was very, very old.

A few years ago, they tore the school building down, replacing it with one of those metal buildings that all the churches and businesses use these days in the midwest.

I’m glad the original church still stands. If anyone happens to know what year this church was erected, please let me know.