Urbex: Exploring an Abandoned Presbyterian Church

Follow me on / tikitrex
I explore a decaying, but gorgeous, large inactive Presbyterian church which is left open. Someone is keeping the grass cut, but the church is abandoned for its intended purpose, and the maintenance of the structure has been neglected.
A bit of back history:
In 1820, Scottish setters had arrived to this area. In 1828, the presbyterian congregation was formed here but they had worshipped in a man's house where a reverend was sent to perform his services. There was then a makeshift church constructed out of a frame which quickly fell to ruin in 1900. Knowing they needed a proper church, parishioners had begun worshipping in this church in 1854 after it was constructed.
In the early 1900s, there were massive renovations done to it including a new basement and a new alcove for the choir to sing. In 2010, there were plans to renovate it to use again but it appears that project was never complete.
The county website states it is still open for summer services, but judging by the cobwebs and state of the structure with the roof leaking and bad air quality, there's likely no chance that has been the case in some time.

[@Nikephorus]

That's really cool. Like you pointed out, it's great to see that nothing seems to have been damaged. It adds a special touch when things are left undisturbed.

[@TikiTrex]

It truly does.

[@ThisSteveGuy]

I wonder if keeping that single light on in the front has scared people away from vandalizing the place, aside from it being a church. That basement with all the tables, stacked chairs and a percolator reminds me of places that would host AA meetings. It may have also been used as a tiny Sunday school and maybe a soup kitchen.

[@TikiTrex]

It very well could have been.

[@schamblin45]

That's a beautiful old church! I'd love to see it preserved and put back into use. Great explore!

[@jw6948]

Just so beautiful! The silver bowl with the little cups were used at Easter along with small communion wafers. The cups held (at my Presbyterian church) grape juice to signify the blood of Christ.

[@Imandria]

I'm not even remotely religious but I love old church buildings anyway. This is a great video, thank you!

[@TikiTrex]

I love the architecture of church buildings as well.

[@georgebaumgardner3889]

Thanks for another great video! So sad to see this house of worship falling into disrepair after obviously having served its congregation and God so well over the years. As you walk through, you can almost go back in time and hear the throngs of people that once graced it's interior, worshipping, having gatherings in the basement, celebrating happy times and observing sad times. So glad to see it has not been vandalized, but unfortunately, given time, it probably will be. Your taking us on this adventure has allowed us to see it before that happens.

[@henn1619]

Those little “shot” glasses were for communion “wine”

[@cathischoll7989]

Yes, I believe it's really grape juice.

[@presidentsanta4785]

It’s like they all left thinking they will be back but didn’t! Thanks TikiTrex

[@TikiTrex]

Thanks for watching!

[@MilePost106]

Dirty shame to see an old church go to waste. The wood work is all done by hand and it would be a beautiful church if it was restored.

[@f62darkstar]

if someone hasn't already said....at 6:45 I believe those are glasses for taking communion.

[@irenea2006]

Beautiful explore. Loved the stain glass widows.

[@ChipGuy]

What a beautiful lost place. I hope it will stay unvandalized for a long long time...

[@TikiTrex]

I hope so too!

[@LiNdSeYr1026]

What a nice Saturday morning surprise! 🎉 Thanks so much! 😊 Can't wait to watch...long time fan from Maine ❤

[@TikiTrex]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@jasonrarick4649]

check the closets there a husband in there somewhere tiki- ❤

[@eviehawke]

what a great explore, thank you! i hope i can figure out where this is and go see it. i love places that haven't been ruined by vandals (hope it stays that way).

[@Wistful77]

Thank you. Wow. Amazing and beautiful. The curved pews and stained glass are very rare to see these days. Craftsmanship lost to time.

[@shanebloeser2910]

Your videos are the best

[@TikiTrex]

Thank you so much!

[@shanebloeser2910]

@@TikiTrex sweetie the cups are for the resurrection. We do it every Sunday at my church

[@j.pappas9083]

Great video but, to me strange to see a church left abandoned. The items in the cupboard are, I believe for communion which to my eyes is even stranger to see just sitting there.

[@TikiTrex]

Thanks. There is supposed to be one service per year held here but judging from the large amount of cobwebs and deteriorating roof/floors, I doubt that has happened in awhile. Ontario has many abandoned churches due to the declining congregations and high building maintenance costs. If not demolished or transformed into houses or businesses, they’re locked up and preserved or boarded up. This one is left open which is rare to find.

[@michaelh7429]

Loved all the great woodwork, hope your well Pam, best Urbex ever!

[@TikiTrex]

Thanks!

[@KaylaP05]

I am SO happy to see another amazing post from you. I've been watching your channel now for a very long time, and it's always so nice to see a new upload. This church was a good find. Crazy that the lights still are on. Thanks for sharing!

[@TikiTrex]

Thank you! I appreciate your long time viewership!

[@clairwaucaush7225]

Nice video! A really nice OLD church. Hopefully someone gets a group of volunteers out to fix it up and clean it up a bit. It's at the stage now if that decay was stopped it would last another hundred years. It's nice that it's open for people to use. Someone is paying the electric bill.

[@NewEnglandOtaku]

So nice to see a place that isn't touched by vandals

[@owen4248]

Amazing beautiful church loved the colorful stained glass windows glad to see it intact and not vandalized that basement is pretty cool too thanks for taking us along :-)

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

great that no one damaged everything and windows,,,god watching over

[@moonpie1616]

How come you have never found any ghosts.... 😂❤😊

[@billylocklear8827]

So glad you are back

[@bertskidmore5506]

Hi Pam, great video Aussie fan here. I agree it's really nice so see an absence of vandalism. In Australia most old churches are just sold to the public & get recommissioned into homes or a small business that uses them as a cafe with often sales from persons craft hobby or small business passion to help make ends meet..

[@TikiTrex]

Thanks! It’s quite similar here where most unused churches are sold as offices or businesses if not demolished. Some just sit boarded up. This was a unique find for sure!

[@LadyAxe13]

Yayy! Another awesome video to make my day!

[@TikiTrex]

I'm glad! Thank you!

[@cmiller4171]

Loved this explore. Thank you for taking us along. Chris and Dave.

[@TikiTrex]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marywallace3620]

that's a cute little church. I bet with a little bit of love and care (and repairs obviously) it could be brought back as a small community church. It's sad when old houses and buildings are left abandoned and not taken care of and the city or state or whoever is in charge keeps on building new houses and buildings. I mean granted a small church like this or one of those really old small houses that were made prior to the 50s probably wouldn't be inhabitable like they once were but there are still plenty of buildings and old timey houses that could be renovated and repaired so they could be used once more.

[@decayexplorer9688]

Really liked the stained glass, awesome exploration 😊 I also started following on Instagram

[@TikiTrex]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Styder111]

so glad you're back. this is so cool.

[@TikiTrex]

Thanks!

[@jerroldmcley4347]

That is a beautiful place I sure hope they do more to save it

[@TikiTrex]

I hope so, too.

[@stanhorch6037]

That is a beautiful old Church, love the stain glass windows. Another wonderful video, thank you.

[@jodywoodruff6473]

Awesome church. It's crazy ive always wanted to take an old church and convert it into a house and live there. I think it would be awesome 👍☺️

[@trainroomgary]

Very nice tour - Churches are always open. "Still" • Frame 5:06 I am a pianist, Like the piano. 🎹Frame: 6:47 They are individual communion glasses. & Hi from Michigan. 🚂

[@TikiTrex]

Hi Gary! 👋 Thanks!

[@mollyandemily]

I was thinking about you the other day and was wondering if you were still making videos. You were one of the first KZbinrs that I watched and subscribed to.

[@TikiTrex]

I appreciate that. I have uploaded 5 recent videos before this one in the past month in case you weren’t notified as many others weren’t for some reason.

[@trackman174]

Very nice explore. I particularly liked the beautiful curved pews. It was nice to see it was not vandalized.

[@RCSmith1957yt]

It’s a Communion Service where the Congregation is served the Fruit of the Vine and Unleavened Bread.

[@badexter1]

What a Beautiful Church. Those are the Communion Trays. When The Lord's Supper is Celebrated those cups are filled with perhaps Grape Juice to symbolize wine.

[@mrob75]

today Miss Tiki really took us to church!

[@TikiTrex]

I did! Lol And I’ll be taking you guys again but this time to one that isn’t abandoned just to show you the architecture of it.

[@clarencejones7916]

The silver plate is for taking communion grape juice represents the blood of Jesus 😇😇🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@snoopysn100]

light on they may have a camera recording everyone who enters nice to see no destruction, other than from age

[@TikiTrex]

I hope they do have a camera.

[@Mom2Goldens]

Hey Tiki! Not abandoned, but the witch's grave and Old St Thomas Church in St Thomas, Ontario is a really beautiful place to visit. It has the most peaceful, serene vibe, especially when the sun is shining through all the big trees on the property. :)

[@TikiTrex]

Non abandoned is good too! I have heard of the Old St. Thomas Church and it’s on my list to explore. I didn’t know about the witch’s grave but I’ll look into that as it seems interesting, too. I actually took some footage of the St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in downtown London, Ontario for an upcoming video, also not abandoned but the architecture is amazing. Thanks for the tips.

[@Mom2Goldens]

@@TikiTrex The witch's grave is the grave on the Old church property that turned black with age. Actually a sad story but lots about it online. Looking forward to the Basilica footage!

[@Mclint9171]

Sad such beautiful craftsmanship went into the church. I’d hope someone would salvage some of it before it rots away.

[@voyager0156]

pretty building, while in not so good shape, glad it hasn't been vandalized. hoping it stays that way. communion trays and collection/donation trays. maybe sunday school/kids groups in the basement? also kinda miss preparing/cleaning the communion service. Thank you. I like the abandoned places

[@colbycrawford8969]

Those are communion cups for grape juice or wine. The other tray was for the little cubes of bread or communion wafers in some cases. The grape juice or wine symbolizes the blood of Christ and the bread the body of Christ. I come from a long line of Scotch Presbyterians. Though I think my distant cousins still in Scotland are mostly Church of Scotland members. The church in Kirkinner, Scotland also no longer holds services so I imagine my cousins are at home on Sundays. Thanks for sharing this Beautiful church. The windows are the nicest stained glass I have seen. The organ in the entrance has to be pumped but I would be surprised if the mechanism is not broken. I’m surprised that the power is still on. Sad that the roof is leaking. I would imagine the light fixtures were originally lit by kerosene or gas lighting. This building reminds me a lot of Antiochia Lutheran Church near Devils Lake, North Dakota but the winds there are all boarded up and I think the glass has either been removed or is covered up on both sides. It’s worth a visit if you ever get over to that area.

[@johnwojsiat9924]

"Big Ass Furnace" LOL!😊

[@TikiTrex]

I should have repented my sin right there and then. 😂

[@lakefromeshippingcompany]

"Good News for Modern Man" was a paperback version of the New Testament that was first published in 1966. It was popular in the church I was brought up in. As its title suggests, it used non-inclusive language which now makes it seem very dated. Revised editions (using for example Australian spelling and metric measurements) have been published several times. ⛪

[@RichardDuddy-r3v]

Thank you Pam glad to see you back, I"ve had to quit exploring for health reasons.

[@maxnaethe7187]

Nice!

[@OldCanadianguy953]

Your videos are always so well made!

[@TikiTrex]

I appreciate the compliment! Thank you!

[@stevexray6253]

I'm glad that only respectful people have visited there. I despise vandalism. It's more proof of the degradation of society when there is no leadership and no authority.

[@katherinepaisley5486]

Those small glasses in the silver container in the corner cupboard are communion glasses. They hold juice/wine and every member takes one along with a wafer or small piece of bread. I think that silver plate next to it would hold the bread.

[@christinemassena]

The cabinet at 6:30 in, that's a communion set. The plate is for the bread crumbs or wafers and the thing with the lid is a stack of trays, each filled wit those tiny cups witch would be filled with grape juice. Or wine, depending on the church. My dad is a pastor, he always did grape juice.

[@eileennovak1656]

Great vid. Appreciate your research, I like a history of the places. I want to live where an unsecured church can exist. In what general area are you?

[@TikiTrex]

I’m in Southwestern Ontario in Canada.

[@eileennovak1656]

Thank you. Wish I could pack-up tomorrow. @@TikiTrex How nice.

[@facistbuster]

Cool little church, sad to see it abandonned and neglected. Enough lead paint peeling to kill a village. The metal container with small glasses should be for communions, wine shooters! The tainted glass windows are beautiful. Religion is on decline everywhere, those places will be in large number soon. Good video and take care.

[@thortheviking4666]

Thanks so much 😊 Awesome like all ways when you explore 👍🏻😃❤️

[@TikiTrex]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thortheviking4666]

@@TikiTrex Oh yes I enjoy very very much to explore with you 😊 It’s fabulous awesome 🤩

[@williamgriffin7584]

very nice love the abandoned churches,....is my favorite

[@bonniekaye]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@TikiTrex]

Thank you!

[@winterburden]

We have active churches in Detroit that are in way worse condition than that. That one looks move-in ready

[@NeilRoy]

Nice explore, thanks. I agree, VERY refreshing to see no vandalism! ❤

[@rickshears1]

The silver trays in the cabinet were used for Holy Communion. They need to do something with the church because vandals will hit it. Stain glass is expensive and they would have no problem finding someone to take them out.

[@Stampcrafter1]

The little cups are for communion service.

[@thomasmcclenan1776]

THE SILVER IN THE SHELF WITH THE SHOTGLASSES IS FOR COMMUNION

[@joanneclose7041]

Fabulous stained glass windows!

[@AmyBrown-jl2mb]

I miss serving communion in my church

[@peggiegreen4420]

Those silver tins with the little cups inside were for communion. Beautiful church, with such beautiful stained glass, especially the one of Jesus! Thank you for showing, but sad to hear you don’t believe in Christ Jesus! ✝️❤

[@wientz]

If its a Prebyterian church it's not an Image of Christ...they don't make images of any of the Trinity.

[@tomfrye9037]

@TikiTrex It's not really a sin to call a big ass furnace a big ass furnace. Love. That's a pretty good size there. It would run me out of my house first time it came on. Regarding churches in general...people these days don't want any kind of guidance. I keep trying to tell people, the Bible and our US Constitution were both written because of human nature. Humans can be some pretty unreasonable critters sometimes. Even if there wasn't a God, both of Bible and our constitution are as good today as they ever were...because human nature will never change. Each person has to change his/her own attitudes and actions. But it's evident that more and more people don't want to change. Enough out of me...🙃 Thanks for the great video, Lovely Lass. We out here in viewer land really appreciate you.

[@TikiTrex]

And I appreciate you all!

[@bonniekaye]

*I love Churches!* *God is the driving force in my life.* ❤️🙏❤️ *So glad that there is no vandalism there.* *Thank you for sharing!* 🙂👍❤️

[@TikiTrex]

Thank you for watching!

[@bonniekaye]

@@TikiTrex My pleasure! 🌹

[@freeplayfrank7736]

Very nice, I enjoyed seeing that church, it,s great that nobody came in and damaged anything. Most likely someone is coming regularly to look after it. Thanks Pam Happy Halloween.

[@TikiTrex]

My pleasure! Happy Halloween to you!

[@Myferrets18]

At the bottom of the steps is your lone chair and on the table in the basement is a kids hand drawn christmas card omplete with christmas tree drawn on it.Does that count as a christmas decoration ? The tray with the little cups is for taking communion.

[@TikiTrex]

Yes, it definitely checks off all of the boxes. lol

[@Ifixstuf]

Missed you Tiki. Good to see you back after watching for at least a decade?

[@TikiTrex]

Thank you! I’ve actually been uploading again the past month or so. There are 5 other recent videos. Many weren’t notified for some reason.

[@therailcat9790]

Was there bell?

[@mistywoods4407]

I love you're abandoned church videos.

[@TikiTrex]

Thanks. I love exploring them and wish I could find more.

[@rachelredden6682]

That church looks so apPEELING. I know I know. That was lame. Sorry.😂

[@TikiTrex]

Good one! I did the same with a title of one of my older house videos as it was peeling pretty badly as well. 😂

[@rachelredden6682]

😭

[@stephaniemcquillan1930]

Great find Pamela and another great video 🙂

[@TikiTrex]

Many thanks! 😊

[@annegleason8442]

I love it!!!

[@thomasmcclenan1776]

LOOKS LIKE WE WENT TO CHURCH TOGETHER TIKI

[@TikiTrex]

We sure did!

[@darlon9552]

❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊

[@vianonamitchell4114]

❤

[@mjg263]

Lovely old church! The basement and all of the different doors and stairway remind me of the church we used to go to when I was a kid. When my mom would volunteer to help out in the big kitchen she would take us kids along and we would run around the place going through all of the little secret staircases and doorways. We had Sunday school classes there too, the basement was really huge and a fun place to play.

[@oswaldmmn]

Mais um vídeo super bacana, obrigado Tiki! Fiquei feliz em ver que não houve vandalismo, e principalmente que ninguém quebrou os lindos vitrais. Tão linda igreja, poderia ser reaberta, afinal, a humanidade precisa de mais lugares onde se fale de Deus e que se possa também falar com ele.