Houses of Worship in Appalachia

Clay Lester, photographer

The church house is an enduring and ubiquitous emblem of Appalachian faith, community, and culture. These historic buildings, almost all of which are still in use, serve as reminders of the deep-rooted and widespread role spirituality has played and continues to play in the Appalachian experience. Over the course of the next few issues, The Mountain Spirit will take you down twisting and turning roads, over hills and through valleys to glimpse some of these iconic landmarks.