Every town big or small needs a church

There was a discussion within this thread about a model Synagogue. I mentioned that D56 had modeled one within their Christmas in the City Collection. The photo below shows the Synagogue next to a Cathedral. Both are striking examples of beautiful architecture for O-Gauge.

What manufacturer made this kit?

Thanks, Greg

TresTrain Fan

Thanks for sharing that photo. its nice knowing so many appreciate  having church structures on the layout. they are eye catchers and really get people talking !!

that kit must be some awesome kit

i have to start keeping my eyes peeled for church kits!!!

That's weird. I attempted to make a post with some info on another Dept. 56 church, and I received a message saying the post needed to be approved by the forum moderators before it could be posted. I wonder if I did something to be on double secret probation?

Here is another Dept. 56 church based on a real life church.

Holy Name Church is based on the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, MO.

What an excellent thread, guys.

trestrainfan:

I have the Holy Name Church installed on the layout. When I go out to the train room today, I will take a picture and post it. Thanks for your update about D56. I was unaware of the connection.

I must check out the Dept. 56 churches.  They are really beautiful.  And after Brian told me that some are available without snow, I am even more interested.

Great thread!

Art

I believe that might be the American Model Builders "Crossroads Church" laser kit.  I thought about using it for my church, but went with the BTS "Rural Church" kit instead based on style.

Thank-you Martin.

What issue of O-Scale Magazine will have your article on the church?

Thanks, Greg

The review of it was last year, Greg. 

I'll have to look up the exact issue number tonight.

In my case....we happen to live in a church that has been converted into our home..here is a picture below:

In addition, we currently have 9 churches in various areas of the layout...here they are:

Excellent thread!  Whence I commence my RR building I'll have a few churches, since in coal patch towns there are as many churches as bars. 

Around here it's just as common to see an ethnic onion-dome Greek Catholic or Russian/Ukrainian Orthodox Church as it is to see Anglo styled Sanctuaries. 

Every town needs a church, post office and a bar...

Art (Chugman) referred to Department 56 Churches this morning that were made without a snow effect. I think this may have been the first and it is part of the Seasons Bay collection. This building was named Chapel on the Hill. As you can see from the photo, it fits in with a non-winter theme. Note the helicopter is coming in to transport the bride and groom. I think the groom is a member of the Coast Guard as that is their helicopter. 

Thanks Martin---I'd like to order a copy from the publisher.

--Greg

PTC, I figured you probably have it. It was the first Dept 56 building I purchased. I'm really enjoying your photos of churches on your layout.

Do you have this one? The Cathedral It was one of the earlier ones and not quite as architecturally precise. If you have it, I was wondering how it looks on the layout.

Leavingtracks, thanks for all the photos of your churches.

I was wondering about the all ivory colored church in your church photos 3 and 4? It reminds me of an old vintage Christmas decoration I have somewhere in storage, I think by Noma, that is lighted and has a wind up sound like a music box? I also like the grey twin tower church in your church photo 2 and the brown and beige church in church photo 7. What company made those churches?

Rule292, Dept 56 makes an Alpine Village series that has onion dome churches, here are a couple of old ones, Alpine Church and St. Nikolaus Kirche

trestrainfan:

Yes, I have the Cathedral in the city portion of our layout. In 1987, Department 56 introduced the Christmas in the City collection. This was in my opinion the first of their collections that fit nicely with modern day O-Gauge trains. The initial introduction was three two story structures (Tower, Toy Shop & Pet Shop). The Cathedral was the next release, and while quite nice, it is plain in architecture compared to the Churches that followed.

I will post a photo of the Cathedral as well.

I have enjoyed this thread and the photos that everyone has posted of churches large and small on their layouts. This is the big in-town church on the BlueBoard Central Division ofAmerican Flyer Lines.  It is from the Heartland Valley Village line of  buildings and accessories.  If I remember correctly it was marketed by  Ace Hardware.

That's a very nice looking church, Greg.  It really looks god where you have it on your layout too.

Art

trestrainfan:

Here you go. The first two photos are of the Cathedral from 1987, both front and back views. The third & forth photos are of Holy name Church.

You might want to consider clicking on the photos to get a larger view.

I bought the Dept. 56 Little Brown Church last year with the possible thought of using it on my layout.  I think the size is good based on the Artista figures in front of the door, but the snow on it is a problem for me.  I had to get it as that is the church we were married in.  I presently have it displayed with other memorabilia about the church.

Greg:

Just love your Church and the way you have placed it on your layout. Beautiful job!

The architecture of the structure is sensational.

Art:

What a find. No wonder it has special meaning to you and Dixie. You have to find a place for it on your layout. You can paint out the snow.

Hey Alan, I thought you said that there was snow back home. Looks like a beautiful day there in Mountain Home. We head back tomorrow and not looking forward to the trip.

Trestrainfan....you are certainly welcome.  I am enjoying this thread!!

Roger...this is the picture taken in 2007 before Mickey and Mary built their home next door...notice nothing on the west side where their home is now.

Alan

Leavingtracks, this is the church I am curious about. It reminds me of a vintage Noma Christmas decoration lighted church.

PTC, thanks for the photos of The Cathedral and the Holy Name Church. They both look good. I really enjoy seeing photos of your Dept. 56 city (it's too big to call a village).

Greg J. Turinetti, that is a neat looking church. Thanks for the info. I've never heard of Heartland Valley Village before, so I looked around on ebay, and they make some nice churches. I see Leavingtracks used a number of them on his layout.

I just answered my own question. It is a vintage Noma lighted church. I would have never thought to use it on a train layout, but it looks good.

A few years ago I bought the D56 synagogue because of its likeness to the Catholic Church in which I was married. In order to make it 'more' like Mt. Carmel Church in the Bronx I had to remove the global structures on the upper left and right. (Not an easy task, even with a Dremel.) Once done, however, some accused me of a hate crime.....in jest....I hope! 

Here is St. Matthew's Church in the town of Beawslaiw circa 1950.  Pastor Andrew and Father Dan are socializing with congregation members after the service on a beautiful Sunday morning.  The branch line for the Brisbane & Bushong RR runs right behind the church. This line runs into the Southern Pacific main line that runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles.  Matt

I'd like to see Woodland Scenics add a medium sized church to their product line.  

Martin - love your modified BTS church has inspired me to make similar changes to my kit.  It will fit nicely in my  company coal mining town of Roberts, PA. 

Ed Rappe

Trestrainfan....

You got the answer before I saw your question but you got it right!  Actually, mine was made by Raylite...so apparently Raylite and Noma were related in some way?  The church is quite large and fits in very nicely.  It doesn't look bad (even though my lighting isn't helping ) but one could make it look fantastic if it were painted properly.  As you can see I have two of them and even thought about combining both, back to back.  I had forgotten about the crosses at the top of the spires...I need to go get them out of the boxes.

Alan

I was collecting vintage Christmas items a few years ago, and I picked one of these up. I think it is a really cool looking church. Mine is in storage, so I was going from memory when I recognized it. I'm not sure of the history of the item or the relationship between Noma and Raylite. I vaguely remember they also made a smaller church that isn't quite as impressive. I tend to think of it as a vintage Christmas piece, so I'd have a hard time painting it, but it would look good painted and placed on a train layout.

Matt:

I love the photos and your story about St. Matthew's Church.  

This is one of my all time favorite model churches. It is a D56 limited addition production model that was cut short in production because of manufacturing issues. The 1,400 plus that were made have become very collectible. The piece is named St Mark's Cathedral. The lighted towers were my innovation as the piece as made needed more lighting to really show off it's overall beauty.

That is a beautiful church!  The lighting really sets it off.

Art

This forum is always costing me money, now I have to get a church for my layout.

Thanks, Ed.

It will look good in that context on your layout.

Thanks for the kind words about my post.  The photos just keep coming.

Besides the in-town church, I have an out in the country church.  Its a simple plasticville church.  One thing that I notice that some folks neglect is that the clergy seving the church has to have a place to live.  Many small town and country churches had a house next to it where the clergy person and his or her family would live.  I've included a parsonage (rectory or manse)  with my country church.

Mine is the Plasticville job with the positionable steeple and red doors...at least it was 'til it got lost in a move some time back.  Been looking for a replacement, but was never able to find the red door version...until recently. Boom - there was a set of red doors at the Cranberry, Pa. train show (TCA).  Just install the red doors on the white door building and, Praise the Father, my childhood is bought back !

Department 56 produced many Churches among their various collections. Here is a beautiful one from the Dickens Village.