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Photography Area~Our Photos => Architecture / Buildings => Topic started by: WTx on August 08, 2007, 08:35:49 PM

Title: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: WTx on August 08, 2007, 08:35:49 PM
Well, since I was going out to Rhineland I realized Bomarton wasn't far away either.  I wondered if this was private property or not.  Interesting story about this...

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120312%2Flarge.jpg&hash=64fb1af01dca840578c0b0d1ce73bc21b118c1a5)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120313%2Flarge.jpg&hash=2e3b410b86a9fe9e02b42a916573129d2741c405)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120315%2Flarge.jpg&hash=746c06f9f9a6e14737ff443a2be8c23310484099)

This is what you see on the door when you enter...

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy181%2Frenffahcs%2FDSC_1848Copy.jpg&hash=c66704e1d59638634bbdc8e66fad2bbf735d4481)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120318%2Flarge.jpg&hash=798976feace3bb5389695439ab7ec1dcd97328d7)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120322%2Flarge.jpg&hash=06f33b608a693d937236f2118cad4ae53e36e7b9)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120324%2Flarge.jpg&hash=79a80854173636b64413d11cc43a0304c066684a)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120321%2Flarge.jpg&hash=ad8f0a4669156f32d8f977adecd373d4e9e4e55d)

Looking up into the bell tower, I didn't go up there :shock:

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120325%2Flarge.jpg&hash=f36d32687502c0df14eedebe281f458821fa950a)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120329%2Flarge.jpg&hash=e1820dce756c16423c79c6635426c0a4139d958f)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83125635%2Flarge.jpg&hash=6c9ba73fa2cff017f28ea42177ff5367039fdcc5)

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fwtx%2Fimage%2F83120316%2Flarge.jpg&hash=d4b42130e7fd0665086e6a93a86d52c09aeb4301)
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: JudyB on August 08, 2007, 11:27:39 PM
What a beautiful Church.  No pews.  Does that mean it isn't used as a church any more?

I love the detail in the stone work and shingles. 

I wouldn't have climbed the bell tower either.

I am a big fan of stained glass windows, The first one seems to be an insignia of sorts.  Any idea what it represents?

Nicely taken the light is good in all shots. 
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: WTx on August 08, 2007, 11:36:46 PM
Nope, not used anymore,  Its abandon.
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: JudyB on August 09, 2007, 12:27:14 AM
That is a sad ending.
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: Barbarian on August 09, 2007, 06:26:24 AM
The symbols are the backside of a window showing the combined Greek letters Chi and Rho.   (X, with a "ch" sound, and P with an "r" sound)

Together, they were an old symbol for "Christos"; Christ.  (sorry, but this site doesn't seem to support Greek alphabet)

The early Christians, being persecuted, often used symbols like a fish, the Chi/Rho, or a running deer to let the believers know who was who.

Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: WTx on August 09, 2007, 11:01:36 AM
QuoteThe symbols are the backside of a window showing the combined Greek letters Chi and Rho.   (X, with a "ch" sound, and P with an "r" sound)

Together, they were an old symbol for "Christos"; Christ.  (sorry, but this site doesn't seem to support Greek alphabet)

The early Christians, being persecuted, often used symbols like a fish, the Chi/Rho, or a running deer to let the believers know who was who.

Thanks, I had wondered that myself!
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: JudyB on August 10, 2007, 05:31:22 PM
Thank you for the explaination.  I love to see Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic writing.  I don't understand it all but it looks so intriquing.  I wish I coould learn it all.
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: Barbarian on August 12, 2007, 10:37:18 PM
I don't know Hebrew at all, but being a biologist, I had to know enough Latin and Greek to read scientific terms.

So I can read a little Greek, if it's not too complicated.
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: JudyB on August 13, 2007, 10:28:30 AM
Good for you!  If I ever need a translation I know where to go!

I have looked at this church again and I find it so beautiful yet a sad look at our society.  If there is a belief in God they want His best yet all the while refusing the accountability that goes with His best.

Even so these are beautiful pictures.
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: Al Moak on August 13, 2007, 06:47:07 PM
It is indeed always sad to me to see an abandoned church like this.  The photography is very, very good.  Barbar. is correct, although the letters that were once used as symbols of identification gradually became standards symbolism.  Greek is one of the languages from which ours was derived, so it is not really a difficult one.  Hebrew, on the other hand, has almost no relationship with English at all, and it is, in my estimation, more difficult.  I studied both in seminary, and I still teach Greek to a few students now from time to time.
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: JudyB on August 14, 2007, 12:51:56 PM
John bought me a Strongs Concordance for my birthday.  In it there are Greek and Hebrew translations.  Very interesting.  I have since my teen years wanted to learn both languages.  To read the original texts in the original language would be so awesome. 
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: writegirl1949 on September 28, 2007, 10:32:19 AM
These are gorgeous photos.  I love old churches.  We saw quite a few in Europe when we were there.  The sad thing about that is that many are actually works of art but it seems that the emphasis was on the outside rather than what goes on inside.  In other words, there's all this beauty but nobody's home.

Thanks for sharing these.

Blessings, Writegirl (aka Francine)
Title: Re: St. John's Catholic Bomarton, Tx (Abandon Church)
Post by: JudyB on October 05, 2007, 12:55:27 PM
Amen Francine.