LOUISIANA, Mo — The Louisiana Area Historical Museum will sponsor its 31st annual Mid-Town Church Walk on Dec. 8.

There is one major change this year. Bethel AME has closed, so the walk will start at 3 p.m. at First Christian, 517 South Carolina.

“We are saddened that we will not be starting as we have in the past at the historic Bethel AME Church, but we’re glad First Christian and the other participants were able to adjust,” said Museum President Brent Engel. “Our prayers will be with Bethel’s congregation. We hope they’ll join everyone else in the walk.”

Engel called the event “a unique Christmas experience that celebrates the arrival of our savior Jesus Christ as the true meaning of the season.”

After First Christian, participants will walk to First Baptist, Centenary United Methodist, Calvary Episcopal and First Presbyterian. There will be punch and cookies at the finish.

Each church gets 15 minutes to perform a program. The rich history and distinct beauty of each parish adds to the experience. Some of the structures date to the late 1800s, serving as ephemeral foundations of abiding faith.

First Christian has a modern sanctuary that makes it acoustically welcoming. Large pipe organs serve as a backdrop to the altars at First Baptist and Centenary United Methodist, which stand across from each other at Seventh and South Carolina.

The breath-taking stained-glass windows in Calvary Episcopal at 704 Georgia are intricate, as are the larger, elaborate stained-glass offerings of First Presbyterian at 121 S. Eighth.

Louisiana has several other churches, but their distance from the downtown area makes visits by the Church Walk impractical. However, with the loss of Bethel on the tour, the museum next year may look at adding a local church that people can drive to before the walking portion.

Engel will continue a tradition started by the first museum president, Martha Sue Smith.

Smith signaled when it was time to move to the next stop by ringing an antique bell from Louisiana’s Eugene Field School. The late Dorothy Webb and museum board member Judy Schmidt have also led the walk.

This will be the fourth year Engel has had control of the bell, although he often lets children ring it. Of course, a church that goes over the 15-minute program limit could get rung up.

“I have no constraints about cutting off violators,” said Engel, who admits such self-righteousness may be pushing the boundaries of seasonal bliss. “I might allow a few seconds, but don’t bet on it.”

While there is no admission charge, donations are welcomed. All proceeds will be used for the museum’s ongoing restoration project. The first phase, an upgrade of the exterior façade with new windows, is almost finished.

 

 

CUTLINE FOR PHOTO:

The Centenary United Methodist handbell choir performs during the 2023 Louisiana Area Historical Museum Mid-Town Church Walk. This year’s event starts at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at First Christian, 517 South Carolina.