4/29/20.
Sometime in the mid-eighties, the Hopewell Church was razed and a shelter built on the old Church grounds. I don't know if the Church structure had deteriorated beyond repair, if a fire gutted the structure or if something else occurred to be a reason for the removal of the Hopewell Church.
In the past, I have attended Church at Hopewell, attended a funeral or two, even went to one of their homecomings and always enjoyed being on that beautiful hilltop. I have fished in the ponds and pits below the church and hunted game all around the Church, yet I do not have much information pertaining to the Church and the Church members.
It has been a few months since I have been to the Hopewell Church property, but would expect today, that the cemetery would be a lush shade of green with the many tombstones gleaming in the sunlight. The shelter is probably relatively clean, although vandals seem to delight in trying to destroy, for no apparent reason, things that please others. The spirits and the physical remains of those entombed in this old graveyard may hear the call of birds and other nature sounds, but for the most part, all is peaceful and tranquil on this lonely hillside in Ohio County. Years ago Ken Mine, Peabody Coal Company, mined all around the few acres that were left intact for the Church and cemetery grounds. May it forever be unscathed.
I have some information recorded, in the "Churches" section of the Rockport/Echols Web Site, and always want to add more of the Churches in the Rockport area where I grew up and where I witnessed all of these mentioned area Churches. I have been inside all of the old Churches and attended Church in most of them. In this "Church" section of the Rockport/Echols Web Site, I have a "Page" for most of the Churches in my time frame. There are some that I have left out, unintentionally, as I just do not have enough information to build a page. I would like to have a "Page" for each Church and will work with anyone that can provide me with a picture and of a write-up of any Church that I have omitted. Help and a response would be appreciated if you know of any such Church. Thanks.
That being said, I know very little about the Hopewell Church, but with limited knowledge and a old picture or two, I intend to start a page and hope that someone will realize that they have pertinent information that would make this page better. Again, help of any sort appreciated.
Consider this a "Web Page", about Hopewell Church, under construction for the time being. I will rework if and when information becomes available. Any picture or information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
:)
Thanks
