I enjoy pedaling my bicycle and I study and teach about religion in American and religious space. I often combine the two as you can see from many posts on this blog. Last summer, for my 52nd birthday, I decided to see if I could pedal my bicycle to photographs buildings erected or occupied by 52 different religious denominations. To help keep count I used a deck of playing cards and included a card in each photo. (The cards also have pictures of churches on them.) My photo prop, Fred the Bear, held the photo in each photo.
It turned into a hot mid-summer day so I did not complete all the photographs in one day, but over about three rides I did. I’d posted these originally on Facebook, but as I am wrapping up my History of Christianity course and students are learning about the great variety of Christain denominations in America (and the many divisions within some of the same varieties) it seemed good to share the images here.
The buildings here appear simply in the order photographed. Here are the first 13. They are all in Shades Valley or atop Shades Mountain, but located in five cities (Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, and Birmingham). That gives you an idea about how fragmented the Birmingham area’s municipal government is. They were photographed on July 4 (hence Fred’s patriotic tie).
Presbyterian Church in the United States
This building was opened in 1963 as the home of Second Presbyterian Church. The congregation was at the time a member of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Twenty years later it, with most of its denomination entered into the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Three months after I took this photo, Second Presbyterian held its last service at this church as it prepared to merge with Edgewood Presbyterian Church. As of this writing (March 2024) the plan is for Grace Fellowship to purchase this building. For more information see this entry on Bhamwiki.
Anglican Church in North America
This is the home of Christ the King Anglican Church. This is the backside of the building, but since it faces the parking lot, I expect many people enter this way. It sits at the top of Shades Mountain, so it took a lot pedaling to get here. Knowing I had a long ride ahead, I did not venture further down the church’s steep campus. Christ the King is the second congregation to own this building, the first was Berney Points Baptist Church which erected this building, which is very visible from Interstate 65 after moving from its earlier location at the Berney Points intersection of Birmingham’s West End.
Southern Baptist Convention
Shades Mountain Baptist Church was founded in 1911 as White’s Chapel Baptist Church, but now people just call it “Shades.” It has a large campus at the top of Shades Mountain on Columbiana Road, but Fred opted just to pose with the sign.
Church of the Nazarene
First Church of the Nazarene sits at the top of Shades Mountain overlooking Shades Valley. Located on US-31 at the intersection of Shades Crest Road, the congregation used the name Crossroads Community Church for a time in the 2000s. The building takes the form of the “round church” that was popular in the early 1970s, with classroom surrounding the central auditorium. The congregation moved to this location from Graymont Avenue in Birmirmingham’s Bush Hill’s neighborhood, near Birmingham-Southern College. That building was sold to Sardis Missionary Baptist Church and then to Mount Zion Full Gospel Baptist Church.
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Across the intersection from the Nazarene churches is the Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills, a congregation of the Lutheran Church–Missiouri Synod.
Independent Methodist
A bit down the southern slope of Shades Mountain sits Vestavia Hills Methodist Church. It is one of the 330 United Methodist congregations in the North Alabama Conference that left the church in 2022 and 2023. While some joined the Global Methodist Church, many include this one chose to remain independent. Fred and I are still trying to understand the idea of an “independent Methodist,” but it is clearly a reality with which we need to come to terms.
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
These days many Baptist congregations belong to more than one “denomination.” Some local churches cooperate with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the (historically African American) National Baptist Convention. Others like Vestavia Hills Baptist Church (pictured here) are affiliated with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Like First Church of the Nazarene, Vestavia Hills Baptist sits on the edge of Shades Mountain with a commanding view of Shades Valley to the north. The history of the church and its adaptation of George Ward’s house Vestavia which once stood here has been insightfully investigated by my friend, architectural historian Margaret Grubiak.
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Valley Christian Church is easy to see the back of from the highway US-280, but it is harder to get to. It occupies a quiet track of land off the top of Shades Mountain. The building is one of four very similar structures in Birmingham all designed in the 1940s or 1950s by archictect Charles McCauley. The others are All Saints’ Episcopal Church, St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church, and First Lutheran Church.
Independent
Having completed the line of churches at the top of Shades Mountain, Fred has kicked his feet up on the patio with this charcoal grill. Years ago when I received tenure from Samford University, my wife and I came to this building to celebrate. At that time it was a McCormick & Schmick’s seafood restaurant. Now it is Grace Church. Grace was founded by the former dean of Birmingham’s Episcopal Cathedral, but now claims no particular denomination or tradition.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Yes, Fred is hogging the frame here, but back behind him is Shades Valley Lutheran Church. It is within easy sight of Grace Church (our previous site). It is a lovely mid-century A-frame that overlooks Shades Creek and the road that runs along side it. I once heard Martin Marty here. He is the most famous Lutheran and most famous American religious historian ever to wear a bowtie. Sadly, back then digital cameras were not a thing, and I didn’t have Fred, or else I would have gotten a photo of the three of us together!
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This building was erected to serve a ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Later it served Mountain Brook Community Church and now St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Like Christ the King, above, it is part of the Anglican Church in North America.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
This building was erected to serve Crestline Cumberland Presbyterian Church and only recently stopped serving that now closed congregation. The ultimate fate of the building is unsure, but at present it shelters Sunday evening services conducted by St. Luke’s Episcopal Chruch.
Community of Christ
The Birmingham Congregation of the Community of Christ worships in this brick church on Montevallo Road in Birmignham’s Eastwood neighborhood. Prior to 2001, the Community of Christ was known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The building was previously Springdale Wesleyan Church.
The completes the first “suit” of Birmingham houses of worship, all photographed on July 4, 2023. I’ll post the other 13 when I get a chance and link to the next post soon.
Chasing Churches 