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St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at Gallion, AL (built 1853-1854)

Antebellum, Churches and Cemeteries, Historic Markers & Memorials | Gallion in Hale County  

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Episcopalians established a mission in this area in 1834 for settlers coming from the Atlantic Seaboard. St. Andrew’s Church was erected in 1853-1854. The design of this small Gothic Revival style church is attributed to Richard Upjohn, the prominent New York architect. The exterior of the church features wooden board and batten with buttresses and a steeply pitched roof. The interior of the church is notable for its beautiful woodwork – symbols and figures on the altar rail and in the chancel were hand-carved. The interior walls were reportedly stained with a mixture brewed from tobacco plants. The interior is virtually unaltered, including original altar rail and chancel furnishings, pews, organ, and stained glass.

St. Andrew’s was photographed and recorded in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in 1936. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1973, and was declared a National Historic Landmark on the same day.

St. Andrew’s is a frequent subject of artists and professional photographers. The church is the cover subject for the award-winning 2006 book “American Country Churches” by William Morgan. It is also featured in the book, “Gifts of Grace: Alabama Churches in Watercolor” by Bob Moody.

This church is located in south Hale County on CR 12 approximately 0.1 miles west of the Gallion, Alabama Post Office (St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church – Google Maps).

Sources: 1) NRHP “St. Andrew’s Church” Nomination Form; 2) “St. Andrew’s Church” Historical Marker; The Alabama Catalog, A Guide to the Early Architecture of the State, by Robert Gamble.

B&W photographs courtesy of the U. S. Library of Congress, photographer: Alex Bush, date: June 30 & 31, 1936.

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Video provides snapshots of the St. Andrew’s Church

Tags: alabama, antebellum, black belt, chapel, church, episcopal, featured, gallion, hale county

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About This Website

Welcome to rural southwest Alabama. This website is dedicated to twelve counties located in rural southwest Alabama which includes a large portion of Alabama’s Black Belt area. This region is known for its rich and diverse heritage, historic homes and churches, and natural beauty. This website contains details about historic and interesting places that you will find in this area of Alabama.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST OF THE HOMES INCLUDED ARE PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ARE DRIVE BY ONLY.

We hope that you enjoy this website.

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Dedicated to the memory of Stacy Milstead Henson (1978-2008) & Inez “Sis” Watts (1924-2007).

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