Inaugural houses of worship tour set

By Jessica Farrish

A new Beckley resident is starting a new tradition in Beckley.

When Raymond Chandler, formerly of Maryland, moved to Beckley a few years ago, he discovered his adopted town didn’t have a holiday church tour.

A member of the Raleigh County Historical Society, Chandler asked his fellow members about the “church tours” in Beckley.

“They said, ‘There’s no church tour here,’” Chandler recalled. “I’m used to church tours.”

For the past 40 years, Chandler said, he’s gone on church tours in Maryland and other parts of West Virginia around the holidays.

In church tours, groups visit all participating churches to gain information on church history, to look at the architecture, musical instruments, stained glass windows or any other interesting feature of the building.

They also may be served refreshments.

Chandler, aided by historical society member Tom Sopher, presented the idea of a church tour to Beckley Mayor Emmett Pugh and Beckley Renaissance Executive Director Jill Moorefield.

Both Pugh and Moorefield were supportive of the project, and Moorefield has helped Chandler develop the inaugural Holiday Tour of the Beckley Houses of Worship.

They plan for it to become a yearly event.

Chandler said the churches in Raleigh County are worthy of showcase.

“Oh, my goodness, these churches are beautiful,” he said, mentioning pipe organs, stained glass windows and architectural features.

All area churches are invited to participate in the tour, said Chandler.

The tour will be free of charge and self-guided, with people coming in to the churches on their own schedules.

“We don’t ask the church to do anything except just be there, and we’ve asked them not to have any formal presentations because people will be walking in and out,” Chandler said.

Participating churches provide the entertainment for visitors.

“My favorite example is the 93-year-old man who’s been playing bells since 1943 in Frederick, Md.,” Chandler said. “That’s my all-time favorite.”

Some churches may want visitors to gather around a grand piano and play Christmas carols while munching on cookies, he said.

“Some of the churches just guide you through the church, showing you their architectural features,” he said.

Chandler requests that participating churches provide a brochure for guests.

The brochure does not have to be elaborate but should include the history of the church.

The information will be included in a program that will be given to tourists at a kickoff ceremony at the Jim Word Memorial Park gazebo.

A committee consisting of Chandler, Moorefield and a representative of each church will plan the tour.

“A representative from each church will plan their activities and we will work with them to schedule it so they’re not all having something at the same time,” he explained. “We don’t want it all to happen at 2:30 p.m.”

The tour is free and self-guided following the kickoff ceremony, Chandler said.

“We plan to offer the tour each holiday season because you simply cannot visit all of them in one year,” he said. “I have found it takes three years to complete the tour.”

Ten churches and one synagogue have so far signed up for the tour.

Those wanting more information may contact Chandler at 304-256-3707 or swithin@verizon.net.

— E-mail: jfarrish@register-herald.com