Sunday's Central United Methodist Church in Florence, SC 12-11-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Let's go to Central United Methodist Church in Florence, South Carolina today.  This big and beautiful church has a website:  http://www.centralmethodist.net/.  It appears to be very much part of the community in Florence, so, if you're in town, take a chance on them.  Love seems to be the major theme from Central United Methodist as far as I can tell, and we do need more love everywhere in this country and beyond.

I hope you had plenty of love today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's St. Peters Catholic Church 12-04-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  This is St. Peters Catholic Church in Cheraw, SC.  The only things I could find out about this church are that it is part of the Diocese in Charleston, SC and that Father David Michael runs the masses.  It is lovely to look at, too.

I hope you had a lovely Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Pee Dee Baptist Church 11-27-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  This is Pee Dee Baptist Church along Highway 73/74 in Rockingham, NC.  I have to say that it is beautiful from the highway, especially at night.  Since I wasn't riding by at night this time, you just have to settle for the day time pick.  Haha.  Even during the daytime, though, I think it's pretty.  

I hope you had a pretty Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.  

Sunday's Pee Dee United Methodist Church 11-20-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  We were travelling down Highway 73/74 today and found a great view!  You're looking at Pee Dee United Methodist Church in Rockingham, NC.  As far as I was concerned today had the perfect sky and the changing leaf color made for good contrast on this pretty little church.  Today has been a great day.

I hope you also had a great Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Latta United Methodist Church 11-13-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  This is Latta United Methodist Church in Latta, Dillon County, SC.  It was built in 1908 and is now on the National Historic Register.  It is a beautiful, big, stately church in downtown Latta.  I was lucky enough to have a beautiful, but bright, sky when I came upon this beauty.  Latta is the second largest town in Dillon County with a population (in 2010) of 1379.  I'll bet when the parishioners walk up and into the Church, they feel a certain kind of pride and joy in entering such a wonderful place of worship.  But, then again, all places of worship, whether they're big and stately or small and cozy, or even outside among nature, are where we commune with God, and rejoice.  

I hope you had a rejoice filled Sunday, no matter where you were located.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hamlet, NC 10-30-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  It was a beautiful day when we took a drive and found ourselves admiring this beauty.  This is St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hamlet, North Carolina.  A search of the internet revealed that there are many St. Paul's Lutheran Churches around the county.  This one in Hamlet may be a little bit different than some of the others.  This church is considered ELCA or Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  In 1988, the American Lutheran Church, The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America bodies merged for form ELCA.  At this point they have well over 3 million baptized members.  The Lutherans are a Protestant group dating back to at least the 17th century.  If you'd like to read a little more about them, a good website is:  https://www.elca.org/en/About/Mission.

I hope you have a sensational Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Flat Creek Pentecostal Church 10-23-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today I'm showing you Flat Creek Pentecostal Church on Society Hill Road in Darlington, South Carolina.  The sun is setting and putting a glow on the front of the Church, so it caught my eye on the way home from work the other day and I just had to stop.  If you are curious about the Pentecostal Faith, a good website to see is:  https://gotquestions.org/Pentecostals.html.

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Mullins Presbyterian Church 10-16-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today I am showing you Mullins Presbyterian Church in Mullins, SC.  I've read that this Church was incorporated in 1899.  It's a great looking Church.  I'll bet it had a service today even though Hurricane Matthew went through last week and since then there has been much flooding throughout this area and in Nichols, SC from the Little Pee Dee River.  Many, many people have lost their homes; some were evacuated from their homes by boat.  Some people are still living in shelters; others are with friends or family.  The electricity still hasn't been restored everywhere.  In some homes the electricity will never be restored because they are a total loss.  Many people did not have or could not afford flood insurance and have lost everything.  Every possession except what little they could take when they evacuated.  And yet, I was there yesterday and I can attest that the people of Mullins are just as nice as they were before the Hurricane.  Yes, they have more problems than they had the week before, but it hasn't broken them.  They know that they will get through this and neighbors help neighbors, no matter what.  We can go to different churches, have different opinions and different political views, but when it comes to getting help and giving help, all those differences are set aside.  We are all in this together and we will help each other.  We will be kind, helpful, caring, protective and loving toward each other.  Everything will be okay - - - eventually.  It is a wonderful feeling to be part of such a community.  I hope you are part of such a community.

I hope you had a sensational Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's First Methodist Church in Marion, SC 10-09-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Welcome to the massive First Methodist Church in Marion, SC.  This Church is awe inspiring to look at and I love the dome.  Once upon a time, back in the 1700s, Marion was known as Liberty Precinct.  It was during that time period, in 1786, that this community became part of a large ministry unit called The Pee Dee Circuit.  At that time, meetings of the nearly 600 Methodists in this area were held in 22 different meeting houses.  One of those houses, The Flowers Meeting House, was visited by Bishop Francis Asbury in 1789.  In 1771 Francis Asbury, then a Methodist traveling preacher appointed by John Wesley, came to America from England in 1771 to preach.  The beginning of the Methodist Episcopal Church began in 1784 and Francis Asbury became  a Bishop charged with leading all Methodists in America.  His leadership continued for the following 32 years and Bishop Asbury visited Marion two other times during that tenure.

A school house once stood where the current building stands.  That school became the church on Sundays for a while until a separate building was built beside the school.  After only 20 years, the congregation outgrew that church and made a deal with the school to buy the property.  It turns out some of the students were vandalizing the cemetery located behind the school and it was best that the church have all the property.  A frame church was built on this site in 1853, and the cornerstone for the church that you see was laid in 1912.  The bell that you see in the far left corner of this photo is from the former, frame church of 1853 when the Church was called Marion Methodist Episcopal church.  It was renamed the First Methodist Church in 1912.  

You can read more about this church at:  http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/marion-county/first-methodist-church.html and more about Bishop Francis Asbury at:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Asbury if you'd like.  Those are the two sites where I gained most of my information for today's blog but there are other sites as well.

I hope you have a sensational Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Immaculate Conception Church 10-02-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Welcome to the Immaculate Conception Church in Salem, Massachusetts.  The church,  originally named St. Mary's, was established in 1826 in a wooden structure.   The name was changed to Immaculate Conception Church in 1850 when it moved to a new brick and stone building.  The church  that you see now was built in 1857.  It is a beautiful structure inside and out.  I'm sure if I were catholic and lived in Salem, Massachusetts I would enjoy attending once in a while.  :)

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Candor Presbyterian Church 09-11-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today you're looking at Candor Presbyterian Church in Candor, NC.  Services are at 11 a.m. on Sundays and that's all the information I could find on this particular church.  I really like the stained glass windows and the steeple with cross on top.  And you know what they say, "When all else fails, look up."  That advice has always helped.  What advice has always helped you?

I hope you've had a wonderful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's House of Prayer for All People 08-28-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Welcome to the House of Prayer for All People located in Winnsboro, SC.  From what I've read, the House of Prayer for All People believes in "One God, One Faith and One Baptism".  This is a beautiful place of fellowship for all.  I enjoyed the opportunity to make photographs at this location.

I hope you had a beautiful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Mount Pelier Presbyterian Church 08-21-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton 

Hello and happy Sunday.  This friendly looking church caught my eye the other day as I was travelling Highway 501 South and 130 East in Rowland County, North Carolina.  This is Mount Pelier Presbyterian Church.  Although it has an unofficial Facebook page and is on the "find a grave" website, I could not find any other information about the age of the Church or its history.  It sure is pretty, though, even a somewhat uncommon front entrance, and I enjoyed stepping out into the heat and taking photographs of the Church and of its grounds.

I hope you're having a great Sunday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Pireway Community Church 08-14-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today's church is Pireway Community Church in Pireway, North Carolina.  Pireway is a small, unincorporated community in Columbus County, NC.  We were on the way to the beach and saw this lovely church and just had to turn around and go back and take pictures for today. 

I wanted to accentuate the stained glass scene in the front of Jesus praying so I put it only in color,  If you click on the picture and zoom in you will be able to see the artwork more clearly.  In my opinion, it's quite likely that we could all pray more.

I hope you have a sensational Sunday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Pinehurst Baptist Church 08-07-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  This is Pinehurst Baptist Church in Pinehurst, NC.  The Church first came into service in June of 2002.  This is the newest or youngest church I believe I have posted this year.  They do have a website if you're interested at:  http://fbcpinehurst.com/

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday at The Greater Highway Church of Christ 07-31-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today I want to invite you to see The Greater Highway Church of Christ on Liberty Street in Marion, South Carolina.  The Greater Highway Church of Christ is considered an Apostolic Church.  They do have a website at:  http://www.ghcoc.net/
 if you care to check it out.  One thing I like about this particular building is that, when walking the path to the Church, there is a reflection of a cross in the bottom windows,

I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Macedonia United Methodist Church 07-24-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today's church is Macedonia United Methodist Church on Main Street in Mullins, SC.  Their message on their front lawn says "Fruit of the Spirit.  Seek God's goodness and mercy always."  I think that pretty much says it all.

I hope you have a great Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Sandhills Wesleyan Church 07-17-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Welcome to Sandhills Wesleyan Church near Florence, SC.  We found it yesterday after a storm.  It also happens to be one of my "highway treasures".  I looked the church up on the internet, but the picture there comes nowhere close to this actual photo.  So, I didn't have my GPS locater on my camera and I can't give you the coordinates.  Sorry.  I think it's on Highway 38.  

I hope you had a satisfying Sunday. and know where you are.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday at East Marion Pentecostal Holiness Church 07-03-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today, let's find out about East Marion Pentecostal Holiness Church in East Marion, SC.  This church actually has a website, and you can find out more about it at:  http://www.eastmarionphchurch.com/.  But, what does it mean to be a Pentecostal Holiness Church, you ask?  This kind of Church was founded in 1911 and basically grew out of two other religions - the "Holiness movement and the Pentecostal revival of the early 20th century."  There is much to read about the roots of this type of church - holiness is rooted in Methodism, John Wesley is a key player; then there is Methodist Episcopalian, Evangelicals, Moravian, Lutheran, etc.  It's just too complicated for me to simplify here.  If you'd like to read more about Pentecostal Holiness check out:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Pentecostal_Holiness_Church, and then click on the highlighted areas which will take you to another part of the story and so on.  It certainly will be an education on this religion if you're interested.

Meanwhile, I hope you are having a sensational Sunday.  Thank you for looking.   See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Carpenter Gothic Church 06-26-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today's church is an example of an architectural style called Carpenter Gothic.  You can read all about Carpenter Gothic at: http://www.oldhouseweb.com/architecture-and-design/carpenter-gothic-1840-1870.shtml, but the gist of the style is, "a need for quickly built houses - - and the desire for fanciful details."   To me, this is an unusual style for a church - but pretty cool, and inviting.  This is Pisgah Methodist Church near Florence, SC and it hasn't always been Carpenter Gothic.  The Church was founded in 1806 and was originally called Russell's Church because a man named Dempsey Russell donated an acre of land to the congregation who then built a frame church.  The name was changed in 1940 to Pisgah Methodist Church.  After the Civil War, the church site moved a few miles west but came back soon after and built a larger frame church.  The Church that you see was built in 1914.  It's great that this building has been standing for more than 100 years.  I'd say that Carpenter Gothic is not only quick and fanciful, but long lasting as well.  You can read more about this particular Church at:  http://pisgahum.com/history/

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.