Looking for churches (not necessarily for spiritual purposes)

[Jeff Lane]

I'm new here, and new at this here "takin' pitchers" stuff, so if this information is elsewhere, and I just didn't find it through search, please forgive.

I'm trying to do a series of photos of churches to fulfill a special request. If you know of any great pieces of ecclesiastical architecture in the DFW area, I'd love to hear from you. I'm looking for grandiose, ornate structures, and for weather-worn little chapels with lots of character, Catholic cathedrals, Protestant churches, synagogues and mosques -- just about any kind of interesting images of places of worship.

I've tried to attach one of my efforts (a couple of spires of a cathedral in Savannah, GA that I stumbled across during vacation, that inspired the request for this project). Any comments are welcome.

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lane

If you know of any great pieces of ecclesiastical architecture in the DFW area, I'd love to hear from you. I'm looking for grandiose, ornate structures, and for weather-worn little chapels with lots of character...

This comment will probably create howls of protest, but it is just my opinion: Dallas has - as a group - some of the least attractive churches of any city I've ever been in. Part of it is because almost all of them are post WWII, and were built quickly and cheap. (Fire away ...)

Still: There are a number of buildings in "old East" Dallas. In particular, there is the Catholic cathedral (Guadalupe) downtown, St. Matthew's Cathedral out on Ross Ave. and St. Thomas Aquinas, East Dallas Christian, Grace UMC and Oak Lawn UMC. I don't think you'll find anything in the area like the photo you posted, with the possible exception of Guadalupe. Ft. Worth I know less about, but the catholic cathedral there is good, as are some of the other downtown churches.

Depending on how far you are willing to travel, there is a 1900 synagogue in Corsicana.

I would love to hear more about your project. I have a similar interest:

www.texaschurchproj.com

Send me a PM.

Cheers

[porkchop2785]

There is the first united methodist church in downtown FT Worth....the current building was completed in 1930....if you take I 30 and exit forrest park and turn right on W 5th st, go about 5 blocks and its on the NE corner of henderson and 5th.....I have taken several shots at night of it, sometimes the interior lights are on to show the stained glass, this particular shot, they were not.......hope this helps




heres a map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...m=1&iwloc=addr

[Jeff Lane]

Thanks for the link to the Church Project web site -- you and your confederates have some beautiful work there. (I intend to plagarize -- uh, I mean use your work as inspiration -- liberally.)

Your catalogue of work more than qualifies you to comment on the paucity of really interesting churches in Dallas. This "project" is for my daughter, who works in a church in Atlanta now, but she grew up in our church at Cliff Temple Baptist, so naturally I also had thought about Grace UMC and a couple of other candidates. Other than that, the Guadelupe was the only other one I had thought of.

For everyone else, any other suggestions -- especially quaint country-chapels or older churches in economically disadvantaged parts of town -- would be very welcomed.

Another try from the recent vacation: a synagogue in Savannah, GA, reputed to be one of the oldest in the US.:


I took this as the light was fading fast (presenting its own challenges), so any comments or constructive criticism is appreciated.

[Jeff Lane]

Hey, Porkchop -- thanks for the info. (Your post came while I was composing my reply to BigDog.)

Love the shot! Do you think they'd be willing to accomodate a Baptist who wanted to take some pix from the inside, looking at those tall stained glass windows?

Thanks,

Jeff

[porkchop2785]

I bet they wouldnt mind.....I am not sure though, I am only there in the wee hours of the morning....

[brad]

St. Patrick's Cathedral in downtown Fort Worth (near the Water Gardens) is also very pretty.

[okevino]

Originally Posted by brad

St. Patrick's Cathedral in downtown Fort Worth (near the Water Gardens) is also very pretty.

Was by St. Patrick's about 2 weeks ago and had scaffolding all over the front, so have a back up plan ready if you head that way.

[bondarnes]

Don't forget about the LDS Temple off Preston Road.

[DanStar]

I have been doing an occasional series of churches in my Mckinney Daily Photo blog. You can check them out at http://mckinneydailyphoto.blogspot.com/search?q=church to see if there is something that interests you.

[DanStar]

Also just saw a pic of this fort worth church in another forum http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=77396

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lane

Do you think they'd be willing to accomodate a Baptist who wanted to take some pix from the inside, looking at those tall stained glass windows?

Sure! You'll just have to say three Hail Mary's afterwards though for penance!

That was meant as humorous and not a jab. If anyone is offended by it I will remove it!

[Dokk]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Don't forget about the LDS Temple off Preston Road.

I saw this and the first thing I thought of was the LDS Temple in Dallas.

Also, just start walking around downtown Ft. Worth. The First Christian Church is pretty neat as well as St. Patrick's, as mentioned above. As far as St. Patricks goes, you can shoot inside as long as it's not during a Mass. As at the Parish office next door and assure them that you are not profiting from the pix and they'll let you. It's really nice to say thanks and make a small offering to one of the Nuns when you're through.

There are some other older churches downtown that look pretty neat, too. Just look around.

[David Whatley]

How about the old church on the TCU campus? There is also another on Berry Street bout 4 miles West of 35.

[rla1022]

There is a great looking / picture worthy Greek orthodox church on the corner of hillcrest and valleyview in dallas. Been there for their Greek festival