A search for fall colors took me past a neat, well-kept white frame church at the corner of Highway 34 and Route U near the Cape – Bollinger county line close to Crump.There was nothing really spectacular about it, but my rule of thumb is that if it catches my attention, then it deserves at least a couple frames. (Click on the photos to make them larger.)
There was a fairly modern sign post out front that proclaimed it was New McKendree at Lake Girardeau. There was space below the name for a message, but it was left empty.
Renee Gordon
I was just about to pull out of the parking lot when a woman walked by. I gave her a wave, which she returned. When she unlocked the door, I asked if I could take a look inside.
It turned out the woman was Renee Gordon, who was hoping to close on the building this week. She plans to turn it into an art studio, gallery and school of the arts.
The church has changed names several times over the years, having been known as the Gravel Hill Methodist Church for a long time. She thought the building might be as much as 125 years old, but I found a 1997 Missourian story about Cape county churches that said the fieldstone foundation made it look like it might have been built in the 1930s. In 1997, the church still had an outhouse. It has a modern kitchen and bathrooms today.
Great space for a studio
I expected to see a dimly-lit, rundown auditorium with rows of dark pews lining the room, but Renee said what you see is essentially what the church left – open space with nice lighting and beautiful floors. It also still has the bell in the tower, and a rope hangs down in the lobby / kitchen area if you are moved to ring it (I didn’t want to ask).
A scan of the Missourian’s archive turned up lots of funeral services, potluck dinners, homecoming affairs and other typical happenings of a small rural church.
One story DID catch my eye: in 1927 a man (I don’t think it’s necessary to name him after all these years) was given a fine of $20 and 15 days in jail for disturbing religious worship at the Gravel Hill Methodist church, “but he was paroled as to the jail sentence pending good behavior.”
Beautiful little church, good for Renee for saving it! I just love the picture she is painting. Thanks Ken for finding this little gem and sharing it with the world.
What a surprise, the inside looks great! That has been taken good care of! That will make a wonderful art studio!
Isn’t it interesting when you see beautiful buildings like this – more towns don’t try to preserve them. Then I’m also wondering – did some of my ancestors go to that church !!
My great-grandparents attended Gravel Hill Methodist Church back before the current church was built. Thanks for sharing.
I grew up in this church. So happy to see it being put to good use. That was some 60 years ago.
My relatives lived in the the Gravel Hill area and one of our family cemeteries is the Gravel Hill Cemetery. My uncle that just passed was born in Gravel Hill.
I attended this lovely little church with a wonderful group of people who were heart broken when it was closed in July,2015.
If you want to see a Gravel Hill cemetery as photogenic as the church, turn right on the gravel road just prior to the bridge (heading west on Highway 34)and drive a couple of miles. The last house on the right before the bridge was owned by my Aunt Bessie Thomas. Her daughter, Mary Lou, went to the one room school house directly across the highway from the church (now a private home), and then actually taught there for a year before the consolidated grade school was built in Burfordville. I spent many a happy childhood hour splashing around in Dillard’s Creek.
I just saw the pics And related story.Renee was buying the church from New Mckendree Methodist Church in Jackson.It seems they poured a lot of money into the bldg.and grounds hoping to re-establish the church.After nearly 2 yrs it was found to be a huge liability and a drain on finances.They could not make it work with such small attd.
Hi I Am Tiffani. The roads r slick and I tried to get home last night from work and I put my truck in a ditch. Someone got me out and the closes place to park it was ur driveway. I am sry but please don’t have it towed. I had to have someone come get me. Thank you. I will move it as soon as i can. Thank you so much and have a blessed day.
I hope you and your vehicle made it home safely.