It’s funny how some places become “trendy” on social media. I had never really heard of this place before but then it suddenly seemed like everyone in the abandoned places groups on Facebook started posting photos of this church. Naturally I had to find out where it was and pay a visit for myself. Now we can officially say “Everyone and his dog have been there.”
I know next to nothing about the history of this church. The signs on the front and the side proclaim it as the “Sunshine Gospel Mission” and mention that date of 1946. There are a few mentions of it online but most do not offer much detail about its history nor when it was abandoned and left to the elements. Naturally, I am hoping astute DanOCan readers and viewers will be able to fill in some details. We have been having great success lately with people who have personal knowledge of these places coming forward with more details on a variety of topics.
This must have been quite a striking church back in its day. Even today the faux red brick and the faded green paint on the steeple hint to the vibrant colors which would have stood out brilliantly against the surroundings, especially in the stark blandness of winter.
We did not attempt to venture inside but the windows are all open which provided more than an adequate view of the inside. The south side of the roof has a small hole and combined with the aforementioned missing windows, it is allowing the elements to wreak havoc on the building. While it seems quite intact now, there is little doubt its days are numbered. The smell of mold and mildew inside was quite striking, indicating the water damage is already very advanced.
We were able to fly DroneOCan up and take a peak in the steeple and can confirm that the bell appears to be long gone, as one would expect. We cannot help but wonder what became of it.
Inside we noticed a quite modern-looking vacuum water bottle sitting on the shelf. A remnant from a recent explorer who ventured inside and forgot it?
I made a special effort to avoid disclosing any specifics about the location in our video but it was quite easy to find with only some basic online searching. Here’s hoping its popularity on social media doesn’t bring a hastened demise to this great relic. As always, treat these buildings and places with respect and do your best to make them last for years to come.
