Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter

‘Best-looking country church’ trusts God in difficult decision

  • December 3, 2020
  • Grace Thornton
  • Alabama News, Baptist News, Church/Association News, Churches, Instagram, Top Stories
The sanctuary of Holly Grove Baptist Church in Conecuh County was destroyed by a giant oak tree blown over by Hurricane Sally on Sept. 17.
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Womble

‘Best-looking country church’ trusts God in difficult decision

Joey Varner remembers the stories his grandmother used to tell of walking down to Holly Grove Baptist Church as a little girl and seeing the sanctuary on fire.

He had no idea that he too would live to see a day when the church’s sanctuary was destroyed again, this time by a giant oak tree thrown across it by Hurricane Sally.

“We used to have two big oak trees, one on each side of the church,” Varner said. “They were pretty important — that’s where we had all our outdoor events. We would take tables outside and sit under the trees.”

They cut one of the oaks down a few decades ago, he said.

“The other one is now sitting in the middle of the church. It pretty much centered it.”

And since the storm hit Sept. 17, the church — which is located in the Lyeffion community in Conecuh County — has had to make some decisions. The church, established in the 1890s, has long been a part of the fabric of the area, and of Varner’s life too — he’s been going there since he was a week or two old.

Church’s heyday

But the church’s heyday was in the ’40s and ’50s, and as the population changed in the decades that followed, so did the church. Before the hurricane, they’d have six people there on Sunday mornings, including interim pastor Hughie Denton and his wife.

“The building was beautiful — the best-looking country church I’ve ever seen,” Varner said.

And Cheryl Womble says it was a loving little community too — she joined the church about a decade ago and says it’s felt like home.

“It’s a very caring group of people,” she said.

‘Broke our hearts’

But in the end, the little church decided rebuilding wasn’t the best decision, and so they decided to disband.

“It broke all of our hearts, but we’re so few in number that we can’t see a good reason to build it back,” Womble said.

Varner agreed.

“It had a great impact and we sure hate that it ended like it did, but it doesn’t make sense for us to build another one,” he said. “Holly Grove has definitely been a big part of the community, and I can’t tell you how many people I have heard express their sorrow about the church, even in surrounding counties.”

But the legacy of Holly Grove Baptist will live on, and part of that will be in other churches, Varner said. As they’ve gone through the church, they’ve taken supplies like tables, hymnals and offering plates that could be salvaged and given them to other congregations in the area.

“We’ve had other churches offer to help us clean up and even rebuild, but we’ve prayed, and we don’t feel like that’s what we’re supposed to do,” he said. “It’s sad. But we feel like God’s hand is in this, and we trust Him.”

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • Sister Springs Baptist in Tyler celebrates bicentennial
    Sister Springs Baptist in Tyler celebrates bicentennial
    December 4, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Plainview Baptist Church dissolved after not meeting for 18 months
    Plainview Baptist Church dissolved after not meeting for 18 months
    December 4, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for December 10
    Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for December 10
    December 4, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Former pastor of Providence Baptist in Anniston dies at 66

August 17, 2022

Craig Spurlin, 66, former pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Anniston, died Aug. 2. Spurlin was licensed into gospel ministry

Headline News from around the Southeast for April 28

April 28, 2022

Arkansas In early April, a team of six volunteers from Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief found an unexpected need when they

Mount Calvary Baptist Church welcomes new pastor

November 6, 2021

David McMillen has been called as senior pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Albertville. He holds a master of arts

Shiloh Baptist Church in Somerville welcomes new youth pastor

November 3, 2021

Patrick Smith is the new youth pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, Somerville. He previously served eight years at First Baptist

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel