There are so many types of abandoned buildings in America, but there is something so vulnerable and sad about an abandoned church.
In perhaps one of the most "divine" interventions, Julie Ferguson and I were working on our book Abandoned Places: Abandoned Memories (Appalachian Edition) and we wanted to include a church. We were driving around West Virginia and I saw an exit for a town called "Sharon." I said, "we gotta stop here!"
We exited and turned and there on the hill was a church. A man was on a ladder, taking down the letters. We asked him about it and he said they were taking a wrecking ball to it next week.
He got his wife, who showed us the rectory house and then the church, allowing us to photograph for the book. If that wasn't enough irony, it was Methodist - the religion I was raised in.
Then, on our way from Charleston up to Point Pleasant, we passed this abandoned church in the middle of nowhere with a creepy abandoned cemetery across from it -
Here are just some of the abandoned places of worship from around the world -
Underwater Churches
16th century church in Nezahualcoyotl reservoir in Mexico reemerges when reservoir lowers
Uribante Reservoir in Táchira, Venezuela
Saint Roma, Spain
Medrano, Spain
The movie "In Dreams" opening scene - underwater church
