Poor. Access by foot only through heavy underbrush
and up steep embankment. The church is located east of Ripley off
Rt. 33, just over 2 miles down CR 26 from the junction to Rt. 33
along the banks of Elk Fork and Welch Run. There is a wide gravel
road leading off the maid road the short distance to the church
drive, which winds up the hillside to the left as you turn off CR
26. The road (more of a pathway now, from lack of use) is generally
kept gated and locked.
** Condition of church
building and grounds as observed on the given date - may not be
representative of care at other times of the year Scale:
Excellent - Good - Fair - Poor - Abandoned
Click thumbnail photos below to
enlarge
The church as viewed
from the path about half way up from the main road
Further
details of this church and it's congregation are being researched.
If you have any information to contribute to the documentation of
this
historic church of Jackson County, please contact WVCPA.
The back side of the
church - from this angle, Elk Fork runs off to the right down in the
valley
<<
What
remains of the interior of the church - still a fairly solid floor
in
places, with the sloped portions for the back pews. The
lumber you
see to the left is the remains of pews that have been
broken up,
apparently for firewood.
The
church appears to have been used as a temporary camp of sorts. >>
There were no indications of negligent campfires being lit, but that
is a
real danger in such a condition as this is.
<<
The
ceiling has broken through in one section - it is unclear how that
happened, although the hole is immediately below the steeple which
likely held a bell at one time. The support
for the bell may
have
failed, and the bell is long gone.
¹Research
on this church is in progress
Comments:
We would love to add old
photos of this church. Does anyone have any more history of
this congregation to share, or any information on its present
status, ownership and use? Photos from the inside of the church in
years past?? Contact WVCPA by email or post with details.