Salvation is reciprocal process. Churches save us and we save churches. This church, located at the corner of Alcorn Rd. and Highway 68 is a glimpse of a rapidly-disappearing, rural North Carolina. The simple, white country church, with a graveyard at its side, at one time was the center of spiritual and social activity for its members. A sign posted on the property asks us to "Save this Church." While it is tragic for the roof to be caving in, the blue tarp gives the abandoned building the appearance of a Christo and Jeanne-Claude project.
Wonder what this land will look like a year from now? Will there be a church here? Other properties in the area have become housing developments with names representing what used to be on the land. Perhaps a housing development here could be called "Lone Church Hill." Save this church..... please.
Good luck in your campaign. Lovely photo - very plaintive.
Posted by: Sally | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 05:58 AM
A beautiful photo, I do hope it will not go the way of all flesh.
Posted by: Arija | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 06:23 AM
Couldn't wait to see today's post and WOW! what a prize photo. Love it! Keep up the good work.
www.newiJune.blogspot.com
Posted by: June | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 07:51 AM
That's so sad. Has it lost its congregation? I hope it does get saved — looks like a beautiful, quiet place to meditate, reflect and pray.
Posted by: Hilda | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 08:06 AM
Sad but beautiful
Posted by: Snapper | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Preservation Oak Ridge are the ones that placed the tarps on the church. They are currently undertaking a fundraiser to restore the church so it can be used for weddings and such. They have already had the land rezoned so it cannot be used for housing or commercial use.
Posted by: lugnut | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 11:39 AM
PS there is an article about the church and is century old history in the Northwest Observer recently. Go to there website and search Ai Church.
Posted by: lugnut | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Churches come and churches go. This one might be worth saving for its historical value. A community usually loses some sense of its history when older buildings that formerly served a purpose are torn down to make way for "modern" ticky-tack.
Posted by: Jacob | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I would never have guessed that that was a church. It's a beautiful photograph.
Posted by: cieldequimper | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Lovely photograph, stunning colour
Posted by: emma and tom | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Thanks lugnut. Our dream has been for Greensboro Daily Photo to generate dialog between local residents and for the world to have access to learning more about our fine city. To date, the website has generated more interest internationally than locally. We hope this is changing. Ten comments. Hurrah!
We found the article you are talking about and will provide the URL here. For our readers, the article indicates that the church, known as Ai Church, is over 200 years. It is located right next to the Old Mill of Guilford, which we are featuring tomorrow! It appears that the property is relatively safe from becoming another housing development. Here is the URL.
http://www.nwobserver.com/articles/2009/02/03/news/doc4981c6187711b121691410.prt
Posted by: Greensboro Daily Photo | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 09:13 PM
What a lovely composition. I like how the blue of the roof really stands out. Nice framing within the trees.
Posted by: Jew Wishes | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 09:54 AM
This is a beautiful photograph, how is the restoration coming?
Posted by: Christina | Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 10:14 AM