Tucked away in Jefferson County, sits one of the most unique churches in the state, Christ Church. No longer in use, the historic church is located in the small community of Church Hill, left hiding in plain sight.
Take a closer look at the beyond charming chapel:
The unincorporated community of Church Hill is located just north of Natchez on the bluffs of the Mississippi River.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
The small community received its name because it is home to Christ Church – a quaint little chapel that sits atop a small hill.
Robert Vernon/Flickr
Although the exact year is not known, the picturesque church was built around 1820.
Michael McCarthy/Flickr Interestingly enough, the church that stands today is actually the third Christ Church constructed on the site.
Architecturally, it is modeled after the old country church buildings that were once popular in England.
Robert Vernon/Flickr
Christ Church is considered the “purest expression of Gothic Revival architecture in antebellum Mississippi.”
Michael McCarthy/Flickr The church is extremely rare in the fact that it has a functional hammer-beam roof – something that can only be found on a few buildings in the state.
Intricate details can be found throughout the structure, even on the massive beams on the interior of the church, which were stained and false grained using turkey feathers.
Shanna Riley/Flickr The pews, chairs, and marble font are all original furnishings. The pipe organ, which is believed to have been manufactured in Scotland, is also still in place.
Christ Church is located at the intersection of Mississippi Highway 553 and Church Hill Road.
Picture Mississippi/Photography by Kim Hunt
Directly across from the church is a wooden country store known as Wagner’s Grocery.
Emailrobert/Wikimedia This historic general store was opened to 1837 and remained in business until the late 1990s. At one time, it also served as the Church Hill post office. Extremely rare, it’s the oldest known all-wooden heart pine general store that also housed a post office in this area of the country.
During the antebellum period, Church Hill was a thriving community, and as a result of that, the area is filled with beautiful antebellum homes. Many of these homes from the past are privately owned today; however, they are still a site to see. Take in Christ Church, Wagner’s Grocery, and the surrounding antebellum architecture by taking the Church Hill Loop Route. For more information, click here.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Robert Vernon/Flickr
Michael McCarthy/Flickr
Interestingly enough, the church that stands today is actually the third Christ Church constructed on the site.
The church is extremely rare in the fact that it has a functional hammer-beam roof – something that can only be found on a few buildings in the state.
Shanna Riley/Flickr
The pews, chairs, and marble font are all original furnishings. The pipe organ, which is believed to have been manufactured in Scotland, is also still in place.
Picture Mississippi/Photography by Kim Hunt
Emailrobert/Wikimedia
This historic general store was opened to 1837 and remained in business until the late 1990s. At one time, it also served as the Church Hill post office. Extremely rare, it’s the oldest known all-wooden heart pine general store that also housed a post office in this area of the country.
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out “You Won’t Find Another Chapel Anywhere In The World Like This One In Mississippi.“
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