Partly Cloudy at St. Luke's

The side windows at St. Luke's Episcopal Church reflect the partly cloudy skies

 from a couple of weeks  ago. Trees were still bare, but they are beginning

 to bud. St. Luke's Church is located at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park 

near Selma. It was built in Cahawba in 1854,

 moved in 1887 and returned in 2006. 

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Old Cahawba Collage

Visitors aren't just visitors at Old Cahawba. 

They're explorers!

The archaeological park located at the confluence of the Cahaba and Alabama 

rivers was best known as Alabama's first state capital (1819-1826),

 but in the 16th Century, it served as an Indian village. Then, in the 1800s,

 Cahawba became a wealthy town with some 3,000 residents.

 During the War Between the States, a federal prison housed Union soldiers,

 and after the war, emancipated slaves took refuge there. 

Now a ghost town, St. Luke's Episcopal Church (recently moved back

 to Old Cahawba) greets guests as they enter the park.

  At right above stand brick pillars that are all that remain of the Crocheron home

 and store that overlooked the rivers. Below at right sits the Perine

 artesian well which furnished air conditioning to the Perine mansion.  

Linking to Mosaic Monday

St. Luke's Exterior

Yesterday, I showed you the interior of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Now, here's the exterior.

Almost complete, the church is under reconstruction at Cahawba Archaeological Park near Selma. The 156-year-old structure was moved from the town of Cahaba in 1880 and was returned piece by piece a few years ago. Soon, park visitors will be able to tour this architectural masterpiece.

Thanks to guest photographer Christine Weerts.

Back to Cahaba

After a 130 year absence, St. Luke's Episcopal Church has returned to Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, and its reconstruction is almost finished.

The church, designed by the famous architect Richard Upjohn, was built in 1854 and moved to nearby Martin's Station in 1880. Now, thanks to the Auburn Rural Studio, Alabama Historical Commission and Cahawba Advisory Committee, the church will once again belong to Cahawba.

Upjohn, who was known for his Gothic Revival designs and Italianate style, also designed Trinity Church in New York City, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Prairieville.

To read more about the church, please see a feature in the local paper HERE.

Thanks to guest photographer Christine Weerts.