Storefront Church

Chriscrawfordphoto · Mar 22, 2011

This church in the small town of New Haven, Indiana (right next to the much larger city of Fort Wayne, where I live). It is a former retail store that has been converted to a worship space. There are a lot of storefront churches like this in Indiana, which fascinates me because there are a lot of traditional churches too.

andredossantos · Mar 22, 2011

Great photo!

These storefront churches fascinate me. There are tons of them here as well. Not in the downtown areas of Manhattan which most associate with New York but definitely in the more residential areas where normal non millionaires can afford to live. There is one across the street from my apartment. Sometimes they BLAST music on weekend and other times when you walk by you hear people wailing and screaming.

Anyway, it's personally fascinating and your photo captures the sort've bizarre prescence these places seem to emit.

Damaso · Mar 22, 2011

Is there any chance we get to see the inside?

Chriscrawfordphoto · Mar 22, 2011

Damaso said:
Is there any chance we get to see the inside?

The pastor invited me to come by sometime when they have services, but I haven't made it over there yet. The last few weeks have been really hectic in my personal life. I will eventually, I want to give them a print.

Leigh Youdale · Mar 22, 2011

They're usually pretty plain on the inside - like an auditorium - as they have a big emphasis on music and are set up for that.
But there was a thread here a while back where someone posted a series of photos they'd taken in such a church whilst the service, praying and laying on of hands was being done.
I personally found the images a little confronting, but then it's not my scene and I don't want to comment - others have (and are entitled to) a different view of these things.

jan normandale · Mar 22, 2011

there's a lot of this happening. I've seen churches set up in vacant industrial buildings as well as former retail locations. All denominations and faiths too. This one of yours Chris is very 'familiar' in Toronto and north East US locations too here's a couple I recently took on a trip to upstate New York

*** by jannx - in hibernation

Johnson City, NY by jannx - in hibernation

Chriscrawfordphoto · Mar 22, 2011

Cool photos, Jan. I love the fact that one is next to a cremation service, lol.

dfoo · Mar 23, 2011

I didn't notice that until you pointed it out!

paulfish4570 · Mar 23, 2011

we've got 'em down South, too, gents, oodles of 'em right smack in the Bible belt.
i gather that most are of pentacostal/charismatic persuasion. a few are mission plants of larger home churches.

farlymac · Mar 23, 2011

The really interesting thing about storefront churches is how many times they change hands/names. There is one here on Williamson Road that has been three different churches since they shut down the resturant that was a front for some kind of nefarious goings on.

PF

Chriscrawfordphoto · Mar 23, 2011

farlymac said:
The really interesting thing about storefront churches is how many times they change hands/names. There is one here on Williamson Road that has been three different churches since they shut down the resturant that was a front for some kind of nefarious goings on.

PF

Funny about the restaurant that was a front for "nefarious goings on." Here in Fort Wayne, near where my parents live, is a locally owned pizza restaurant. It has been open for as long as I can remember, going back to my childhood growing up near the place. In all that time, I don't think that I have EVER seen any customers there. Ever. No one else in the neighborhood has either, nor have any of us ate there. Yet, it remains open. We've always speculated that it was either a front for drugs or prostitution or money laundering. How else can a restaurant stay in business for 30 years with no customers?

jan normandale · Mar 23, 2011

Chriscrawfordphoto said:
Funny about the restaurant that was a front for "nefarious goings on." Here in Fort Wayne, ... I don't think that I have EVER seen any customers there. Ever. .. Yet, it remains open. We've always speculated that it was either a front for drugs or prostitution or money laundering. How else can a restaurant stay in business for 30 years with no customers?

there's a sketchy pizza place that was just like you described located in the "Annex" area of Toronto.. finally got nailed for dealing... Pizza "G"

Leigh Youdale · Mar 23, 2011

Chriscrawfordphoto said:
Funny about the restaurant that was a front for "nefarious goings on." Here in Fort Wayne, near where my parents live, is a locally owned pizza restaurant. It has been open for as long as I can remember, going back to my childhood growing up near the place. In all that time, I don't think that I have EVER seen any customers there. Ever. No one else in the neighborhood has either, nor have any of us ate there. Yet, it remains open. We've always speculated that it was either a front for drugs or prostitution or money laundering. How else can a restaurant stay in business for 30 years with no customers?

Do you think they might not be quite up to date with their tax returns?

andredossantos · Mar 23, 2011

My favorite local "fronts" are: a stationary store where you have to ring a buzzer to get inside (it's a gambling parlor) and a Senior Citizen's "club" that has the lights on and activity going on 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks. Lol.

farlymac · Mar 24, 2011

Chris, on the other side of the road, there was an antique dealer in a large old house that had some of the neatest stuff. I picked up a couple of Leica slide storage boxes full of glass slides there, and was going to start buying whatever decent old cameras he had. Then they busted him for what he was also dealing on the side. The place is now a day spa.

PF

Darshan · Mar 24, 2011

Chris, this photo brings out a little sadness as well as hope in my heart, nicely done.

To my eyes, your photos seem to have a little tint of color, yet they are B&W. Is that due to some kind of processing? I must say, this tint works very well in some of the photos..

Chriscrawfordphoto · Mar 24, 2011

DanP said:
Chris, this photo brings out a little sadness as well as hope in my heart, nicely done.

To my eyes, your photos seem to have a little tint of color, yet they are B&W. Is that due to some kind of processing? I must say, this tint works very well in some of the photos..

I add a slight tone to the scans in Photoshop to make them look like the actual prints that people buy will look. Some of my images look selenium toned, some warm, some sepia, etc. I make the image online look like the prints will look so that buyers know what they're getting when they order.

Keith · Mar 24, 2011

The thing I have to ask is, do any of the churches in this area have checkouts?

Or signs saying ... "Absolution available now in isle four!"

Leigh Youdale · Mar 24, 2011

Checkout

Checkout

Keith said:
The thing I have to ask is, do any of the churches in this area have checkouts?

Well, there's the one where you check out through the adjoining cremation parlour.

SciAggie · Mar 24, 2011

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Storefront Church

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