Reprint from Collections & Connections
Spring 1997, Vol. 1, No. 2

"Come to the Church in the Wildwood: Warren County's Historic Rural Churches," an exhibit developed cooperatively with the Landmark association and the southern Kentucky Photography Society, will open at The Kentucky Museum on June 28 with special activities scheduled for 1-3 p.m.

The exhibit will photographically document 56 extant rural churches in Warren County, and is, according to Donna Parker, the museum's exhibits curator, an outgrowth of Landmark's 1995 project documenting the county's rural churches.

In addition to contemporary photographs of selected structures 50 years or older, the exhibit will also include information about the churches' architectural features, historic photographs of structures no longer in existence, a book featuring all Warren County rural churches and a section about social events surrounding the churches.

The Old Green River Union Meeting House pictured above will be among the churches featured.

In writing about this church in the Landmark publication, Jonathan Jeffrey, who is also the exhibit's curator, said this old, abandoned church, which is located near Richardsville, "lingers like a spinster awaiting her beau."

"Although decimated," Jeffrey continues, "she continues to wait, hoping for renewed spirit that comes from an adoring subject."

According to Jeffrey, the church was originally built in 1845 by Huguenot descendants and is one of 14 Huguenot shrines in the United States and the only one in Kentucky. The church congregation dates from the early nineteenth century. A log building was erected for services and in 1835 Joseph Herrell and his wife deeded two acres of land to the trustees of the Green River Union Meeting House. Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists all worshipped at this church at one time. When the Methodist Church was built in Richardsville in the mid-1940s, many who had attended Green River switched to the new church.

Although a congregation has not worshipped at Green River for many years, homecomings and reunions are still held there. Unfortunately, the church has been vandalized, with much of the flooring, windows, doors and stone steps no longer there.

"Come to the Church in the Wildwood" will be on exhibit through mid-December of this year. Partial funding for the exhibit was received from Trans Financial Bank.

~ Earlene Chelf

The University was recently notified that Trans Financial Bank had donated $8,150 to WKU, with $2,500 designated to help underwrite The Kentucky Museum's "Rural Churches" photographic exhibit and $3,500 to be applied to computer equipment and software for the Glasgow Campus Library.

The remainder was designated for the campus radio and television stations.

University Libraries faculty and staff wish to thank Trans Financial Bank for their continuing support of its programs and activities.

~ Earlene Chelf