Christmas Country Church Tour underway in southeast Missouri

PERRY COUNTY, Mo. (KBSI) – The Christmas Country Church tour is underway in southeast Missouri.

Thirty-seven churches are participating in the tour, one of which is the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville. The church welcomed almost a thousand visitors during last year’s tour. 

Association of the Miraculous Medal Volunteer Coordinator Frank Ryan said one of the neat things about the tour is the variety of churches that participate. 

“You have small churches, you have bigger churches,” he said. “You have churches that are 200 years old, some that are about 100 years old. Some are closer to town, some are out in the country.” 

Speaking of 200-year-old churches, Apple Creek Presbyterian Church was completed in 1821 and is the third oldest Presbyterian Church west of the Mississippi. 

It doesn’t even have electricity, heat, or other modern amenities, and volunteer Stacey Hope said walking into the church is almost like stepping into a time machine, and it provides a sense of tranquility.. 

“It’s a special place. People say that all the time,” she said. “They’ll pull up here even in the summertime when we’re working on the grounds, and they just want to sit because it’s so tranquil. I think it gives people an opportunity to experience peace that we often don’t get in our world today.” 

And even older still, Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson is 204 years old, which makes it the oldest Protestant Church west of the Mississippi. 

Board member Doris Dace said this church tour gives her and the others at Old McKendree a great chance to help keep the chapel on the map. 

“We really want people to know about it and to honor it the way we honor it,” she said. “It has survived 204 years. We want to make it another 204 years.” 

The tour continues on Friday from 2 to 9 p.m.