Editor's P.S.

Southern Living, Feb 2003 by Murphy, Morgan

Leisure travel and religion have a long history together. When Americans visit Europe, they climb hundreds of cathedral steps to gaze over ancient cities and admire chapel frescos. When they head to Egypt or Mexico, they poke around pyramids. From the ruins of ancient temples in Greece and Rome to the giant Buddhas of Tokyo and Seoul, religious sites and artwork have garnered the admiration of visitors from across the globe.

When I travel around our region, I make it a point to explore the religious sites of the South. Sometimes the place to go is obvious. Here in Alabama, must-sees include 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham; the Native American ceremonial sites in Moundville; and the newly constructed 110-foot campanile at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, near Birmingham.

Yet when I'm out of my home state, I'm often left wondering which service to attend, which stained-glass windows not to miss, and if there's a steeple worth climbing. You may have noticed in our Weekend column that we've begun to occasionally mention religious services, whether they be in a church, temple, or mosque. We'd like to hear about places you know of such as Historic St. Luke's Church in Smithfield, Virginia (built in 1632, it's the only original Gothic church left in America), or the magnificent stained-glass Tiffany windows of Blandford Church in Petersburg, Virginia.

-MORGAN MURPHY

By the Numbers

As the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last sermon and the final resting spot for the likes of Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson, Washington National Cathedral also stands as perhaps the South's most famous place of worship.

* Approximate number of pipes in the great organ: 10,650.

* Number of stone angels on the two west towers: 320.

* Number of moon rocks contained in the windows: 1.

Room at the Inn

Looking to stay in an old church, or simply want to check out the B&Bs in your area? Try Bed & Breakfast Inns Online at bbonline.com. The Web site offers B&B listings by state, province, region, and city and includes more than 10,000 color photos of members' inns. And, yes, you really can stay at The Church House Inn Bed & Breakfast in Toney, Alabama.

Oh, Ye of Little...

We've heard of Good Hope Church, New Hope Church, and just plain Hope Church, but seldom have we seen such a modest congregation.

Between Tyler and Canton, Texas, on State 64, Janet Kasper spotted this sign and just had to have a picture. Her husband, Ed, is presumably pointing to the church, not pictured (we hope). As it turns out, though, there are several churches who have chosen to use "little hope" in their names. We found some examples in Clarksville, Tennessee; in Eoline, Alabama; and near Quitman, Texas.

Do You Have a Postscript?

I want to preface the following request by saying that my cholesterol level can't take another pancake supper, and I don't even read all the bulletins my church sends me. However, if you know of a fabulous religious site others can visit or event they can attend, drop me a line. Send pictures, tips, and brochures to Postscript, P.O. Box 523, Birmingham, AL 35201. Include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. For each tip published, we'll send you $25.