A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Hello all, for those that don't know what "The Stone Church" looks like, this is for you. I won't reveal the location of the church here for security reasons, but I did want to point out a few interesting things.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

The foundations of the Stone Church predate the Civil War, with the completion of the stone section immediately following. It is my understanding that the entryway/bell tower was added at a later time (as was the wooden sections at the rear of the building). It appears that the cemetery started to the right of the church and has worked its way around over the last 150 or so years. To the left of the church, and out of the photograph, is again as much cemetery. The oldest grave I found in my brief time there was 1859.

Another bit of amusing history is the fact that the building was actually constructed on the dividing line between two townships. The story is that it was placed there so that there would be no division as to which township the church was in. As you can see in the second picture, there is no dividing line down the center aisle at the present time!

The second picture is there to show the interior and the location of the new/old instrument. It will be placed approximately where I am standing. It will fill the space between the wall and the heat register and come forward about six feet; which is about two feet in front of where I am standing. In the picture I am trying to hide the H****** instrument. (That is a dirty word when you are an organ builder!)

I particularly like the altar/reredos. It is a marvelous piece of woodwork and American Folk art. The parent church is to be commended for its desire to preserve its history and share it with everyone.