North Alabama Hallelujah Trail

Expiration: 3 years after purchase

The North Alabama Hallelujah Trail features 32 churches that are at least 100 years old, stand on their original sites, still hold services, and are accessible to the public.
These structures paint an immaculate portrait of North Alabama’s history and combine to tell the remarkable story of early Alabamians' spiritual journey. The Hallelujah Trail winds through 16 counties. Some churches can be described as grand gothic edifices while others are simple clapboard buildings. No matter what, the passion of the church’s parishioners pulsates through the walls. Whatever your beliefs, these houses of worship cause us to pause, reflect, and recount the most important events in our lives.

Read about the history and stories behind the churches. Plus if you check in at all 32 sites, Visit North Alabama will send you a prize for participating! Now get out there and explore the history and culture our region has to offer!

Included Venues

See locations on an interactive map.

Blountsville United Methodist Church - Site 24

Moving from Tennessee, Ebenezer Hearn was called upon to organize the first Methodist Church of Alabama. What began as a Methodist camp on a Creek Indian site progressively transformed into a building in 1886, now known as Blountsville United Methodist Church. IN a local news article in 1886, CF Hamil, the Sunday School Superintendent and Otto Pulls, architect, were commended for bringing "the finest edifice in this whole section of the country". Today 200 members attend church every Sunday underneath the hand-hewed beams that are still visible today.

Brilliant Methodist Church - Site 15

Brilliant Methodist Church was built by local coal miners. Located on Main Street, it still remains a cornerstone of the town. The high pitched roof, stained glass windows, and the church bell extend a friendly welcome to all who enter.

Cambridge United Methodist Church - Site 6

Established in 1818 by the Tennessee Annual Conference, Cambridge United Methodist Church's prigin dates back to the early 1800s as a camp meeting site. Late in the summer of 1862 the Confederate troops used the church to set up Malone Battalion, named after Captain Jim Malone. Late in the Civil War, Federal troops seized and damaged much of teh church. The church was restored in 1873 and is still in use today, retaining much of its original configuration.

Church of the Forest - Site 17

Church of the Forest was organized under its first name of Grayson. It's located in the extreme north central part of Winston County just a half mile from the historical site of Mt. Olive. Much of the church's existence is owed to the Clancy Lumber Company which made donations to the church throughout its hustory. In 1952 the church was given its current name, "Church of the Forest" due to its beautiful surroundings.

Corinth Church - Site 16

Corinth Church was organized and joined the association at Union Grove in 1884. During the early 1900s the church disbanded due to a population shift in Double Springs, but was revived in 1953. Corinth Church has been completely restored to its original appearance. It has no power or water and only an outhouse for a rest room. Services are still held there early on Sunday mornings.

Courtland Presbyterian Church - Site 18

Built in 1821 in the Church of Nazareth in Courtland, as it was first called, has served Courtland as the second oldest Presbyterian Church in North, Alabama. In 1957, the church was narrowly saved from a fire by the combined efforts of Decatur, Town Creek, and Courtland firemen. The following two years, the continued to hold services in the basement while the structure was being rebuilt.

Episcopal Church of the Nativity - Site 5

The church building was erected in 1894 after the original building was destroyed by a fire. Known as one of the finest examples of Gothic Revivial Architecture in the South, the church structure has a nave and aisles lighted by windows of tracery.

First Methodist Church of Guntersville - Site 26

The church was organized in 1822 with 33 Cherokee Native Americans ministered by circuit writer, Richard Neely. The first building was built in 1869 on the present site and was the home of the first organized religious group in the area.

First Presbyterian Church - Site 10

This Georgian Gothic style curch is Alabama's oldest house of continuous worship. One of the more famous Alabamians to worship here was Helen Keller. This is the church where she was baptized. The grounds still contain the original slave gallery.

First Presbyterian Church - Site 27

After the first building was abandoned, burned, and covered with Guntersville Lake, the orner stone of the current Presbyterian Church is descendant of Cherokee Mission School. The architecture, Classical Revival, is based closely to a 16th century design of architect Anrea Palladio.

First Presbyterian Church - Site 7

Founded in 1829, the First Presbyterian Church initially shared a building, known as Union Church, with the First Baptist Chuch. In 1852 they were able to move into their own church, but his building was seized in the Civil War, used by Union troops as a stable, the pews burned for firewood and the building severely abused. The congregation moved back in their Baptist friends until 1895 when the "new" sanctuary was dedicated. Visit us at this "new" location on teh courthouse swuare and.or see our fascinating history at www.fpcathens.org.

First Presbyterian Church of Fort Payne - Site 31

Built in 1875, the First Presbyterian Church is the oldest church still in use in Fort Payne. Located in the historic district of downtown, services are still held at this church each week.

First United Methodist Church of Attalla - Site 29

Organized in 1887, this church originally held meetings at the old Clements school. The stone constructed sanctuary was obtained in 1925. Today with the beaitufil growth continuing for the church, a beautifully constructed brick building with stained glass windows graces the land (built 1980).

First United Methodist Church of Red Bay - Site 13

A missionary from Boonesville, Mississippi set out to preach under a brush arbor, which was called "Oak Grove". On split log seats, the community worshiped there until they were later able to build a cabin. After the Methodist Church became a part of the ALabama circuit, Oak Grove became First United Methodist Church of Red Bay. The church has grown from logs to an encased brick structure with today's modern conveniences.

Hamilton Methodist Church - Site 14

The Hamilton Methodist Church was established in 1868 formerly called Toll Gate. The current structure was erected in 1924 with several improvements being added over the years.

Hellton Memorial Chapel - Site 2

May 13th of 1900, the Helton Memorial Chapel was dedicated at Pleasant Springs, Alabama with about 500 people in attendance. The church was named after Mrs. Emma Helton, who spent $1,040 to erect the chapel in memory of her late husband, Dr. Pleasant H. Helton.

Keener United Methodist Church - Site 28

Together on horse and buggy, Jim and Mary Overstreet rode through the town to raise money for the construction of the church in the early 1900s. With the church ony being one room the children would attend the neighbors house for Sunday School. Today, visitors are still encouraged to "Go before you go" considering there are no outhouses or restrooms available. Overstreet descendants still attend this one room church every Sunday.

Lebanon Campground Methodist Church - Site 30

Established in the 1830s, the building was first used as a place of worship and the only school in the area. The big spring, still located in front of the church, provided water. Today there are still no mordern conveniences such as running water, power, or facilities within the building. Located just down the road, visit the post office, built in 1842. Also, you will be glad to know, they do have restrooms.

Mentone United Methodist Church - Site 1

Roscoe and Ethel Brown are still honored today by the descendants of their church family for supporting the construction of Mentone United Methodist Church. The church was built just before the turn of the twentieth century. Known for its high steeple cross and nestled in a wooded lot, the church has survived time and a fire to hold services each Sunday.

Mount Pleasant Methodist Church - Site 12

Outside visits only. Since the early 1800s, the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church has survived many tragedies, including a flu outbreak and a deadly tornado. The framing of the present structure maintains pegs and square nails that date prior to 1900.

Pine Torch Church - Site 19

Nested in the Bankhead National Forest, Pine Torch was built in 1850. Made from poplar logs with oak shingles and a tin roof, Pine Torch is the perfect example of a log buildng from that era. It served as both church and school for the area. Nondenominational services are held every Sunday at 10:00am.

Round Mountain

On August 3, 1895, a community of ministers and deacons established a Baptist Church in Round Mountain. After petitions for money was raised to build the church. The Lord's Supper was observed for the first time in May of 1896.

Shady Grove Methodist Church - Site 23

The church began as a brush arbor and featured log benches underneath for seating. The second church was made of hand-sawed logs, dirt floor and doubled as a school house for the area. In the late 1800s, Reverend D.C. Beltz, Architext, designed and built this beautiful gothic-style church with the help of volunteers in the community. Located behind the pulpuit, visitors can enjoy the workmanship of a hand-carved design of a church. Today it stands tall atop a hill overlooking farm country and graves of past Union and Confederate Soldiers.

Shiloh Methodist Church - Site 25

Shiloh Methodist Church was dedicated December 3, 1817. The church is still the same building of 1878. The exterior boards are original to the 1878 church.

St. John's Episcopal Church - Site 11

Located in Tuscumbia, Alabama, this is the State's oldest Carpenter Gorthic Church. Built in 1855, it was used by Union Soldiers to stable their horses during the War Between the States.

St. John's Episcopal Church - Site 20

St. John's congregation was established in 1880 by the settlers of New Decatur, but the current structure wasn't built until 1893. Originally facing North, the church was physically turned around to face east. Saint John's was modeled after Gothic English Parish Churches and is the only true Gothic church in Decatur.

St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church - Site 22

IN 1874, one year before the town was officially incorporated, the Cullman family and other descendants from Germany began the first religious organization. Shortly thereafter, St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church was constructed. Updated in 1922, stained glass windows and elegant wood working still define this architectural landscape.

St. Joseph Catholic Church - Site 8

The beginnings were simple with Mass being held at the home of Mr. Joe Beckman in 1879. Florence Roman Catholics established their first church here in 1898 with Grammelber Brunner, OSB, as pastor. They met earlier in private homes attended by visiting priests. Churches in Tuscumbia and St. Florian served the Shoals at large. The ordinal wooden church and its school were the center of the surrounding Catholic Hill neighborhood for seventy-five years. St. Joseph's school mainly served the working class areas of east Florence. In time, it became teh cheif religious center for area Catholics.

Temple B'nai Shalom - Site 4

Founders from Germany erected this combination of Romanesque, classical and Renaissance architecture in 1899. This is the only congregation affiliated with the Reform Jewish Movement in North Alabama.

The Tabernacle - Site 21

Nothing more than cedar tree logs holding up a roof to cover pews, The Tabernacle has been the home of the Hartselle Camp Meeting since the late 1800s. It and other camp meetings can trace their heritage in part the holiness movement of the 19th century.

Trinity Episcopal Church - Site 9

The church building was errected in 1894 after the original sanctuary located a few blocks away was destroyed by fire in 1883. The bell tower houses a bell that was salvaged from the fire. The sanctuary and nave boast numberaous memorial stained glass windows and rich beautiful woodwork throughout. The majestic voice of the organ is complimented by the baby grand piano in services on Sunday.

Woodville Methodist Chapel - Site 3

Constructed in 1912, Woodville Methodist Chapel remains the oldest church in the area. The original structure built in 1871 was also used by other denominations since it was the only church in the area at that time.