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simply felt the calling. Many church interiors feature what seem to be inelegant designs, but the gentle grace and perfect balance of the construction is what really stands out.

Several white-painted timberframed churches are nestled in quiet surroundings, standing as testimonies to those who wished to create a place of silence, prayer, and spiritual joy. Others can be found in serene locations, open on three sides, married to the woodlands with only a single room. Like the forest, each church has its atmosphere, fragrance, light, and shadow. Sturdy benches and a simple wooden pulpit are the sole furnishings in some.

The stained-glass windows are perhaps the most breathtaking feature of many churches on the trail. The glimmering sunlight warms and fills the sanctuaries with colorful prisms of nature’s power. The beautiful gothic, cathedral-like structures are truly great wonders of art. In addition, the tall, elegant steeples rise into the heavens, touching the sky and providing a direct connection for the church denizens down below.

Some churches can be described as grand gothic edifices while others are simple clapboard buildings. No matter, the passion of the churches’ 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: birth, marriage, death, and the mysteries that await.

The Hallelujah Trail was made possible by grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, and the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

A few of the churches along the trail are listed below. For a full list and to download a pdf Hallelujah Trail guide, go to www.northalabama. org/places-to-visit/trails/hallelujah/.

St. John’s Episcopal Church

202 Gordon Drive SE, Decatur

Woodville Methodist Chapel

106 Pear Street, Woodville

Temple B’nai Sholom

103 Lincoln Street SE, Huntsville

Episcopal Church of the Nativity

208 Eustis Avenue, Huntsville

Cambridge United Methodist Church

13980 Cambridge Lane, Athens

First Presbyterian Church of Athens

112 South Jefferson Street, Athens

Joseph Catholic Church

1111 East College Street, Florence

Trinity Episcopal Church

410 North Pine Street, Florence

First Presbyterian Church of Tuscumbia

103 N. Broad Street, Tuscumbia

Mount Pleasant Methodist Highway 724 & CR 87, Russellville

Corinth Church

2540 County Road 57, Double Springs

Church of the Forest

51 County Road 94, Houston

Courtland Presbyterian Church

Milton, Courtland

Pine Torch Church

1955 County Road, 70 Moulton

The Tabernacle

35 Tabernacle Road, Hartselle

St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church

512 2nd Avenue SE, Cullman

Shady Grove Methodist Church

895 County Road 846, Logan

First Methodist Church of Guntersville

539 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville

First Presbyterian Church of Guntersville

901 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville