For the past 18 months, I have been writing about most of the 106 churches in Fayette County and its one synagogue. There are about 30 churches that did not respond when contacted by phone and then by letter.

There are three African Methodist Episcopal churches, three Assemblies of God, 36 Baptist churches, three Bible churches, three Charismatic churches, nine Christian churches, one Christian Science church, four Church of Christ churches, a Church of God, a Church of God of Prophecy, a Contemporary church, two Episcopal churches, an Charismatic Episcopal church, four Full Gospel churches, a Holiness church, a Jehovah's Witness church, one Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, four Lutheran churches, two nondenominational churches, two Pentecostal churches, five Presbyterian churches, three Roman Catholic churches, two Seventh Day Adventist churches, 13 United Methodist churches and one Synagogue.

There are five churches that date back to the beginning of the county in the 1820s and they are still viable congregations: Fayetteville First United Methodist, Fayetteville First Baptist, Whitewater Baptist, Flat Creek Baptist and Antioch Baptist.

Altogether there are 25 churches that date from the 19th century; from 1900 to 1950 there were four new churches; from 1950 to 1970 there were seven churches begun; from 1970 to 1980 there were 11 new ones; from 1980 to 1990 there were 15, and from 1990 to date there are 11 new ones. (These figures are from the churches who responded).

Of these churches, those in the 19th century were begun under brush arbors or in homes; in the 20th century 10 were begun in schools, four began in the American Legion Log Cabin building, three began in tents, six started in storefronts, 12 began in homes, and the rest began by using other churches.

It has been interesting to see trends I would not have otherwise seen; about 20 percent of the churches are creating memorial gardens, whether in memory of congregants or just providing peaceful places to sit and ponder. One church is devoting over an acre to its garden, and when complete it will contain a waterfall, a pond, a Gazebo, walking paths, benches and a 20-foot high wooden cross.

Also, because the cost of construction has gotten to be so high, brand new churches are building multipurpose buildings first. They are used as sanctuaries, classrooms and sports facilities until the congregations can build separate sanctuaries, usually in about seven years.

One thing I have been personally pleased to observe is the helping out of congregations that aren't even the same faith as the giver. Whether a congregation is a brand new one, or had to vacate its church while building a new one, churches of all faiths are pitching in to offer their facilities. A Church of Christ has shared its facilities with a synagogue for many years.

There are two pastoral “clubs” in the county and when they meet, no one tries to expound on any dogmas, they just share ways in which they can lead people to Christ, which is what they are in business to do.

African-American churches and white churches are beginning to swap preachers occasionally, and several churches are devoting one service or more a week to Spanish-speaking people. One church provides a “translator box” to Hispanics on Sunday morning so they can participate in the service. This church also hired an assistant pastor who speaks Spanish.

Yes, indeed, Fayette County has become a microcosm of the world, and I for one, am pleased to have witnessed it.

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