One of my favorite stories I have told here involves Wesley Chapel, an abandoned church just 30 minutes up the road. I hope you’ll revisit that story here.
Meanwhile, I stopped by the other night just to check on the old place and to further mourn its deterioration. Here are some pictures.
Things have worsened a lot since my first visit.
The windows had all been been boarded up but someone has removed some barriers so you can see inside from a few angles.
The piano remains, likely because it was too heavy to carry and impossible to even give away.
Can’t you hear it? I’m imaging an elderly woman named Mabel who pounded those keys with vigor as the congregation sang “Shall we gather at the river.”
This next image will haunt my dreams.
I don’t know why it bothers me so much but I find the sight of that lone chair in an empty and forgotten church entryway incredibly troubling.
The steeple still reaches Heavenward but it looks worse for the wear.
Here’s a closer look at the cross on the other side of the steeple.
Part of me wishes I could stop going there and part of me doesn’t want to try. Meanwhile, go read that first story if you don’t mind. Here’s that link again.
I am fortunate to live close to several Ohio State Parks but have struggled to get outside this winter. Rain, cold, early darkness, my busy life and occasional laziness have largely kept me inside.
People often say they don’t like winter hiking because of the cold and I’ll never understand that. Despite the cold and ice, yesterday’s hike was far more pleasant than the hot, humid ones of summer in Ohio.