The Holy Bible sits on the pulpit where it was left after the last sermon in June 1999 at the Shiloh Methodist Church, Huntsville, IL. While I was working on a right of way project in Illinois, I passed by the church often in my travels, and if the light was right, would stop a shoot a frame, or two. One day, having a little extra time, I decided to open the door and look inside. Here, in these few images is what I saw. A church left as it was. A sign on the door said it had never been locked, and hopefully, never will be.
“The church was built in 1868. The ground was deeded be Henery and Altin Alphin for the sum of $5.00,” a sign on the inside church door says.
“Good years and bad, it has served the community well, helping to make a neighborhood and a feeling of unity to the community. Despite snow, sleet, rain, and lots of mud for many years it was filled to near capacity people coming from far and near in wagons, buggies, sleighs, many walked, later Model T’s and finally Buicks and Oldsmobiles.
“Having served this NEIGHBORHOOD well for 134 years, due to many changes, it was officially closed June 1999. it is believed this building has never been locked, and hopefully, it never will be,” the message concluded.
I was glad to see that the community hadn’t abandoned this old structure that had served them. Frequently, I stop and take pictures of abandoned churches with doors padlocked, and a look through a window reveals that they are now used for storage, or have been pretty much gutted, or otherwise uncared for.
One of the last times I drove by Shiloh Methodist Church, the sun was setting and I could see the church had a new coat of paint. I stopped and shot a frame. The community still cares.
