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Experiences|Sights & Landmarks

The Little-Known Church Hiding In Arkansas That Is An Absolute Work Of Art

St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a beautiful, historic chapel surrounded by lush greenery and a small waterfall, making it a sought-after wedding venue.

Published Aug 1, 2021

Written by 

Daniella DiRienzo

Thorncrown Chapel is one of the most beautiful churches in Arkansas, but it's not the only beautiful church in Arkansas. There are several others, including the little-known St. Catherine's at Bell Gable. Steeped in history and beauty, it's a true work of art, and you’ll want to see it for yourself!

Hiding in plain sight, St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable is in Fayetteville.

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St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable/TripAdvisor

Like something from a fairy tale, it’s made of stone and surrounded by lush greenery, vibrant blooms, and a small waterfall.

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St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable/Google

And though it may be hard to believe, the story behind the chapel is as delightful as the chapel itself.

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Dinaker Prasad Kadiyala/Google

Work on St. Catherine's began in 1986. A long time in the making, it took 12 years to build!

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Dinaker Prasad Kadiyala/Google

Antique doors and a beautiful stained glass window are some of the chapel’s most notable features.

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Dinaker Prasad Kadiyala/Google

Shipped all the way from England, the stained glass window and doors were the inspiration for the chapel.

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St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable/Facebook

Even more interesting is the fact that Lowell Boynton, the engineer behind the chapel, built it without any plans. He simply stored details in his head.

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Dinaker Prasad Kadiyala/Google

Boynton did a majority of the work himself.

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Dinaker Prasad Kadiyala/Google

And anything not done by Boynton was carefully sourced. For instance, the spiral staircase came from Pennsylvania and the pews are from a church in Missouri.

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Chris Hernandez/Google

Thanks to its enchanting appearance, St. Catherine’s is (not surprisingly) a highly sought-after wedding venue.

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St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable/Google

But you don’t have to tie the knot to enjoy its splendor. St. Catherine’s is open to anyone who wishes to pray or meditate.

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St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable/Google

For more information on St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable, call (479) 387-1107. You can also visit the St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable website or Facebook page.

So, did you know about this little-known church hiding in Arkansas? Ever visited? If so, what’d you think? Was it as stunning in person? Tell us!

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This is just one of the beautiful chapels in Arkansas. Click here to read about another that’s unlike any other in the world.

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Experiences|Sights & Landmarks

The Incredible Church In Arkansas That Has Been Left In Ruins

Published Mar 28, 2024

Written by 

Melanie Johnson

If you've driven through Helena at the corner of York and Columbia Street, chances are you've seen the Centennial Baptist Church. This gorgeous church was once a prominent place for community members to gather and worship. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this church is now in ruins. However, the legacy of this abandoned church in Arkansas still lives on. Here at OIYS, we love to cover historical places and tell the stories of Arkansas' rich history.

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Built in 1905, the Centennial Baptist Church is a gorgeous Gothic-style Revival that reflects architectural excellence. The brainchild of Henry James Price, a church parishioner, it's the only building in Arkansas designed by an African American architect.

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Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Starting in 1879, with the leadership of renowned Pastor Elias Camp Morris, this historical church became a prominent place for the community to worship. As pastor, Morris grew the congregation to more than 1,000 members and remained pastor until his death in 1922.

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Dave Wilson/Google

Eventually, it became the headquarters for the National Baptist Convention, USA, which was an organization established by Morris.

The church was eventually abandoned in 2003, and in 2020, tornados passed through the area and as you can see, a big chunk of the church suffered significant damages. Of course, this didn't help with chances of restoration.

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Courtvonderhaas, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

While efforts were being made to preserve the structure, the storm was a major setback. No repairs have been done since, so the church still sits with the gaping hole and left in ruins.

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Dave Wilson/Google

It's sad to see this legendary church in the state that it's in. Thankfully, due to its significance, it was placed on the National Historical Places in 1987 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

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Dave Wilson/Google

Over the years, nature has reclaimed the space. But I find something quite beautiful seeing this Gothic building adorned with the growing vines.

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Joe Spake/Google

The next time you find yourself driving through Helena, be sure to stop by this abandoned church and think about its rich history and the incredible legacy it has left behind.

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Google Maps

Did you know about this abandoned church in Arkansas? If so, share with us what you know. Learn more about Centennial Baptist Church by visiting the Preserve Arkansas website.

Love to explore abandoned places? Here's a road trip featuring some more abandoned places in Arkansas.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arkansas/abandoned-ar-road-trip/

Or check out this website with some historical places in Arkansas that are worth visiting.

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Experiences|Sights & Landmarks

Crossing This 150-Year-Old Bridge In Arkansas Is Like Walking Through History

Published Feb 1, 2024

Written by 

Melanie Johnson

As the oldest remaining iron bowstring truss bridge in Arkansas, you can only imagine the amount of history tied to the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge. Built in 1874 to link Springfield to the steamboat hub of Des Arc, this 150-year-old relic has stood the test of time. And after flooding, fires, vandalism, and more, this bridge has lived on to tell its story. Let’s head to Beaverfork Park Lake in Conway to stroll across this historic bridge in Arkansas.

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From a distance, this well constructed arch bridge sitting over Lake Beaverfork looks pretty normal. But what you may not know is that this bridge is the oldest of its kind in Arkansas.

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Johnny Hooper, GRI/Google

Originally built in 1874 over Cadron Creek in Faulkner-Conway County, the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge has experienced a lot throughout its 150+year history.

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Taft, Louise T.Related names:King, ZenasKing Bridge Manufactory and Iron WorksPreston, George B, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The bridge was constructed to connect Springfield to the steamboat port on the White River. So, of course, it became a popular route for folks traveling in the area.

However, from the time it was constructed until 1982, the bridge was damaged by extreme flooding. Attempts were made to save the bridge, and it was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

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Valis55, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Shortly after restoration efforts were made in 1991, the bridge began to decay and was eventually vandalized with graffiti and fires. Luckily, in 2011, Faulkner County Historical Society and Workin' Bridges of Grinnell Iowa coordinated efforts for a final rescue of this significant bridge.

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Josh C/Google

It was restored and relocated to Beaverfork Lake Park in Conway, where it is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

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Conway, Arkansas, City of Colleges/Facebook

Today, fully renovated and used only for pedestrian traffic, this historic bridge has a lot of life left in it. And if you ask us, it's worth a visit.

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Teresa Gorecke/Google

So, plan a day trip to Beaverfork Lake Park, where you can enjoy kayaking, fishing, swimming, and more. And while you're there, stroll across this timeless relic and read about its tumultuous but fascinating history.

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Tammie Hunn/Google

The Springfield-Des Arc Bridge is truly one of Arkansas’ treasured gems.

So, what do you think about this historic bridge in Arkansas? Have you had a chance to stroll across this 150-year-old relic? If so, tell us about it in the comments below.

And if you plan a trip to see the bridge, we found a great hotel in Conway that's less than 10 minutes away from the park.

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